Department for Transport

Bicycles: Repairs and Maintenance

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when people will be able to apply for Fix Your Bike vouchers.

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of bicycle shops that will have the £2 million public liability insurance that is required for them to meet the eligibility criteria for the Fix Your Bike voucher scheme.

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of bicycle repair shops who are SMEs that will be able to accept Fix Your Bike vouchers.

Chris Heaton-Harris: On 23rd May the Secretary of State announced £25 million of funding to provide up to £50 to members of the public wanting to get their old cycles roadworthy again through the Fix Your Bike Voucher Scheme and to help increase the provision of cycle fixing facilities across the country through the Big Bike Revival. We are aiming for applications for vouchers to open to members of the public as soon as possible. With the help of representatives from the cycle industry, we have designed a scheme that is accessible to a wide range of types and sizes of businesses, including independent shops and SMEs, provided repairs are carried out by competent mechanics. It is a requirement of the scheme that businesses have appropriate liability insurance to cover the repairs they carry out. This level of cover is an appropriate and standard form of insurance for the sector, and one which is easily accessible to businesses. We therefore expect that the great majority of bicycle repair businesses in England, SME’s included, will be able to achieve this requirement and participate in the scheme The scheme opened to registration for bicycle shops on the 22nd of June and we have so far received hundreds of applications from businesses of all sizes. A list of participating businesses is available on the scheme website: fixyourbikevoucherscheme.est.org.uk/.

Transport: Schools

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to promote (a) walking buses and (b) cycling as means of transport to and from school.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department for Transport is making £225 million available to local authorities this financial year for urgent measures to make it easier for people to walk and cycle for all short journeys, including to school. The Department has also provided significant amounts of funding to keep buses running to serve those who rely on them. On 3 April, the Government announced £397 million of support for bus services, and on 23 May the Secretary of State announced a further £254 million to help increase bus services across England as we begin to re-open our economy. The Department for Education has produced guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings. This guidance sets out that schools should ‘ensure parents and young people are aware of recommendations on transport to and from education or childcare settings’ and encourage parents and children and young people ‘to walk or cycle to their education setting where possible’. A few months ago we announced that Bikeability training for schoolchildren would be expanded to cover all children nationwide.

Cycling and Walking: Bosworth

Dr Luke Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of the funding announced by the Government on 9 May 2020 for cycling and walking is planned to be allocated to Bosworth constituency.

Chris Heaton-Harris: On the 29th May, indicative allocations to local authorities from the Emergency Active Travel Fund were published on gov.uk. Leicestershire County Council has been allocated £335,164 from tranche 1 of the Emergency Active Travel Fund and indicatively allocated £1,451,000 from tranche 2. The Department will invite bids from authorities for tranche 2 of the fund shortly. Before receiving any funding, authorities must submit satisfactory plans to the Department, and the amount each authority receives will depend on it satisfying the Department that it has ambitious plans in place to reallocate road space to cyclists and pedestrians.

Shared Spaces: Coronavirus

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve safety in shared spaces for (a) cyclists and (b) pedestrians while social distancing is required during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Local authorities are responsible for ensuring any changes to their road networks are safe and fit for purpose. The statutory guidance published on 9 May on reallocating road space set out the steps Government expects local authorities to take to provide more space to cycling and walking, and to enable social distancing, in response to Covid-19. It is available athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reallocating-road-space-in-response-to-covid-19-statutory-guidance-for-local-authorities Alongside the guidance, the Department announced emergency active travel funding of £225M, to help local authorities make changes to their roads to enable more walking and cycling, and to enable social distancing. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities with information and examples of measures that may be undertaken to adapt and manage public spaces in order to help social distancing. It is available athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/safer-public-places-urban-centres-and-green-spaces-covid-19

Public Transport: Fares

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect on household income of people using public rather than private transport.

Chris Heaton-Harris: No such assessment has been made. While household income varies across the users of public and private transport, we are not aware of any reason why household income would be affected by people using public rather than private transport.

Motorcycles: Driving Tests

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when motorcycle driving tests can resume as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been the safety of its staff and the wider public. That remains its priority as it restarts its services.From 4 July 2020, people will be able to take motorcycle and moped compulsory basic training, and motorcycle direct access scheme training.Motorcycle and moped module 1 and module 2 tests will be available from 13 July 2020.

Travel: Coronavirus

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether UK citizens travelling to countries rated (a) green and (b) amber under the Government's proposed traffic light travel system will face mandatory testing for covid-19 on (i) leaving and (ii) returning to the UK.

Kelly Tolhurst: UK citizens returning to the UK will not face mandatory testing for COVID-19. All passengers flying into the UK are provided with the latest public health advice at various stages in their journey and we expect them to follow the latest guidance, including around social distancing and the wearing of face coverings. In relation to UK citizens leaving the UK, it is the responsibility for all countries to set their own entry and public health requirements. Each country will have its own approach depending on their individual circumstances. These measures will be subject to regular review and we will continue to explore further measures at airports in line with the latest scientific evidence and data. The Government expects other countries to follow best practice in relation to aviation guidance and Covid-19, such as our own UK guidance or ICAO and EASA guidance.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Electric Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2020 to Question 59368, how much has been spent on funding the purchase of British made (a) electric bicycles and (b) scooters.

Nadhim Zahawi: We do not hold records of how much has been spent on funding the purchase of British made electric bicycles and scooters.

Offshore Fixed Structures: Decommissioning

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the outcomes were of the bilateral discussions between UK, German and Dutch Government officials on the Shell proposal to decommission Brent rigs Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta; and whether a record of those meetings will be published.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The meetings with officials from Germany and the Netherlands took place earlier in the year, following the OSPAR Special Consultative Meeting. The meetings were constructive and focussed on possible ways forward to address their concerns. As these meetings were informal, there was no intention to record or publish the discussions.

Offshore Fixed Structures: Decommissioning

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what response his Department has made to the expert reports commissioned by the (a) German Government and (b) Dutch government on the Shell proposal to decommission Brent rigs Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta tabled at the Special Consultative Meeting of the OSPAR Commission in October 2019; and when he plans to publish that response.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The content of the reports provided by Germany and the Netherlands were supplementary to their objections to the derogation consultation for Brent and were therefore part of the discussion at the OSPAR Special consultative meeting in October 2019. A record of that meeting was published by the chair of OSPAR in early November 2019.

Offshore Fixed Structures: Decommissioning

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to make a formal decision on the decommissioning plans for (a) Brent Alpha, (b) the other Brent platforms and (c) any other similar applications which the UK government may have received seeking derogation from resolution OSPAR 98/3.

Kwasi Kwarteng: In regard to the proposal to leave in-situ the footings of the Brent Alpha steel jacket, we expect to be in a position to make a decision within the next few months. The decision on the Brent Bravo, Brent Charlie and Brent Delta concrete gravity-based installations is currently being considered, and we are keeping the OSPAR Contracting Parties informed of our progress. We have no detailed timetable and a formal decision is expected to be made in due course. We are currently considering two Decommissioning programmes where a derogation is likely to be sought.

Offshore Fixed Structures: Decommissioning

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the proposed permit conditions relating to the Shell application to decommission Brent oil rigs Bravo, Charlie and Delta in respect of technology development for the management of the structures (a) will consider only in-situ remediation as an option or (b) there will be requirement to invest in technology development for the removal of those contents to shore.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Conditions to be included in the derogation permit for Brent Bravo, Brent Charlie and Brent Delta concrete gravity-based installations are being considered alongside the final decision. We expect to include conditions that would require ongoing analysis and development of technology, consideration of how to remediate the contents of the structure in situ and a management plan for any infrastructure left in situ in perpetuity, which will involve periodic monitoring as well as environmental surveys.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Coronavirus

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report of the all-party group on air pollution entitled Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection, published on 29 May 2020.

Kwasi Kwarteng: As we recover from COVID-19, the Government intends to deliver a UK economy which is stronger, cleaner, more sustainable and more resilient. This includes ensuring we improve air quality while cutting emissions, for example through more building UK supply chains in low carbon transport.

Post Offices: Coronavirus

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of Post Office Ltd on the operation of post offices as covid-19 lockdown measures are eased.

Paul Scully: BEIS Ministers and Officials have regular discussions with Post Office Ltd to discuss a range of issues, including the impact of Covid-19 on the operation of the Post Office. The Government announcement on 23 March made it clear that the Government views the services provided by the Post Office as essential and, subject to social distancing guidelines, post offices have been allowed to remain open throughout lockdown. However, for those post offices co-located in a non-essential retailer which therefore had to close for a period, the easing of lockdown measures mean that they can re-start trading. Postmasters, as self-employed businesspeople, will need to consider how best to maintain social distancing at their workplace in line with the latest Government guidance which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches.This may include restricting the number of customers in a shop at any one time and making this clear to customers and other visitors. Post Office workers who cannot work from home should go to work as soon as it is practical if their workplace is open and follows the safer working guidelines.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure the Warm Home Discount is maintained after the end of March 2021.

Kwasi Kwarteng: We will consult on a one-year extension of the current Warm Home Discount scheme later this year. We will also consider reform to improve the fuel poverty targeting of the scheme beyond 2022, and will consult on this in due course.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to enable tanning salons with sunbeds that do not require close contact between customers and staff to reopen.

Paul Scully: From 4 July, many close contact services such as hairdressers, pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen provided they adhere to the safer working guidelines. However, others such as tanning salons, beauty parlours and make-up studios remain closed until further notice. The Government recognises that this is difficult for some businesses. Every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be. Our approach to the types of businesses who can reopen is guided by the scientific and medical advice. SAGE provides world-leading scientific advice to the Government. However, making any changes depends on us continuing to meet the five tests. We will continue to work with those industries that are still closed to understand how best we can reopen them safely, at the right time, guided by the science.

Employment: Industrial Health and Safety

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that people with (a) diabetes and (b) other clinically vulnerable conditions are able to (i) work from home and (ii) receive fair remuneration if their employer cannot guarantee a covid-19 safe workplace.

Paul Scully: The advice to those who are clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) remains that they should take extra care to follow hygiene and social distancing guidelines but they can leave their homes, including to go to work. This includes employees with diabetes. The Government is clear that in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, anyone who can work from home should still do so. Employers also have a legal duty to make sure the workplace is safe for their employees. Where working from home is not possible, employers should provide the safest onsite roles available to enable clinically vulnerable employees to follow social distancing measures. In addition, the Government has set out an unprecedented package of financial support to help the country through the coronavirus pandemic, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which has supported 9.2million jobs.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to reallocate the unspent funding allocated to the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund to (a) small breweries and (b) other businesses that support the hospitality sector.

Paul Scully: The Government has put forward a package of support for business in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. As part of this, as of 21 June, £10.48 billion has been paid out to over 853,800 business properties under the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). We are working closely with all local authorities to deliver remaining funding to eligible businesses. Due to reasons of fairness, those local authorities with unspent funding will not be able to reallocate this beyond these schemes, and all local authorities will need to carry out a reconciliation exercise with government in due course. On 1 May, the Government announced a further up to £617 million available for local authorities in England to support small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs that are not liable for business rates or rates reliefs, and are therefore out of scope of the SBGF and RHLGF. Local authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for this scheme in their area, within the government guidance:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses. We are keeping in close contact with local authorities to understand how the schemes are rolling out and any additional support which could be offered to help businesses and support local economies.

Hydrogen

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor and (b) other Cabinet colleagues on establishing a UK-wide hydrogen strategy.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Government is committed to developing hydrogen as a strategic decarbonised energy carrier. We are currently developing our strategic approach to hydrogen and its potential to deliver against our net zero goals. We are undertaking extensive stakeholder engagement as we develop new policy to help bring forward the technologies and supply chain we will need to grow the UK hydrogen economy. This includes business models to support the deployment of, and investment in, low carbon hydrogen production and a £100m Low Carbon Hydrogen Production Fund to stimulate capital investment. We will be further engaging with industry on both schemes throughout the year. BEIS ministers have held no formal discussions with my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer or other Cabinet colleagues on establishing a UK-wide hydrogen strategy.

Employment: Diabetes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is planning to take to support people with diabetes when they return to work during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: It is critical that employers offer safe workplaces. The Government has published guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These guides cover a range of working environments and are available at www.gov.uk/workingsafely. Nothing in this guidance affects employers’ existing responsibilities under employment and equalities legislation. Employers therefore need to bear in mind the particular needs of different groups or individuals, and make sure that the steps they take to address the risk of COVID-19 do not unjustifiably impact on some groups compared with others. The safer workplaces guidance provides information to employers on how best to meet these responsibilities in the context of COVID-19.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will publish further clarification on when (a) spas, (b) beauty businesses (c) mobile practitioners can resume their operations during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: Hairdressers and barbers in England will be able to reopen from 4 July to offer hairdressing services, once they are following the COVID-secure guidelines.Other close contact services, like nail salons, beauty and tattoo parlours remain closed until further notice. We appreciate that this is difficult for some businesses. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be. The Government will work with the remaining closed services to establish a timeline for when they can reopen safely.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the evidential basis was for the decision to permit hair and not beauty appointments during the covid-19 outbreak from 4 July 2020.

Paul Scully: From 4 July, hairdressers will be able to reopen provided they adhere to the safer working guidelines. However, beauty parlours and make-up studios remain closed until further notice. The Government recognises that this is difficult for some businesses. Every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be. Our approach to the types of businesses who can reopen is guided by the scientific and medical advice. SAGE provides world-leading scientific advice to the Government. However, making any changes depends on us continuing to meet the five tests. We will continue to work with those industries that are still closed to understand how best we can reopen them safely, at the right time, guided by the science.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to review the guidelines on restrictions in place for close contact services during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: Following my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June, some close contact services such as hairdressers, pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen on 4 July, provided they adhere to the safer working guidelines. We have published guidance for these sectors on 23 June to provide ways these businesses can ensure a safe reopening. As some examples, hairdressers and barbers should wear visors as additional protection, use an appointment only policy, avoid overlapping appointments, distance customer seating appropriately, clean thoroughly after each client, prepare equipment in advance to reduce movement in spaces, and screen customers ahead of the appointment to check they do not have symptoms. We have been taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, so that we do not risk a second peak of the virus. We will continue to work with those industries that are still closed to understand how best we can reopen them safely, at the right time, guided by the science.

Foreign Investment in UK: Coronavirus

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of overseas investors seeking to buy large stakes in UK businesses in the event that the UK enters a recession as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: As we take steps to jumpstart our economy and get on the road to recovery from Covid-19, investment from abroad could provide a much-needed boost to companies right across Britain. But we must not be blind to the risks it could pose to businesses that are right at the heart of our battle against the virus and vital for our subsequent recovery. That is why on 22 June, this Government laid secondary legislation to amend the Enterprise Act 2002, thereby strengthening the Government’s powers to intervene in certain investments made into the UK. The Government can now intervene on public interest grounds in order to maintain the UK’s capability to combat and mitigate the effects of public health emergencies. Further, subject to Parliament’s approval of a draft statutory instrument, the Government will be shortly be able to intervene in smaller mergers in three of the most national security sensitive sectors: artificial intelligence, cryptographic authentication and advanced materials.

NHS: Holiday Leave

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Government guidance entitled Holiday entitlement and pay during coronavirus (COVID-19), published 13 May 2020, whether NHS staff contracted with a third party will be able to carry forward their annual leave entitlements for up to two years, in line with their front line colleagues.

Paul Scully: Any individual who is a worker under the Working Time Regulations 1998 is entitled to 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave. 1.6 weeks of this annual leave can be carried forward into the next leave year if provided for in a binding written agreement between the worker and their employer. The Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 provide for the remaining four weeks of annual leave to be carried into the following two leave years if, due to the effects of coronavirus, it is not reasonably practicable for a worker to take this leave in the year to which it relates. This applies to all workers who are unable to take their annual leave due to the coronavirus, including non-medical NHS staff. It is a matter for individual employers and their workers to consider whether it is possible to facilitate a worker taking annual leave. In these unprecedented times, the Government urges employers to carefully consider the guidance and the welfare of their workforce.

NHS: Holiday Leave

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Government guidance entitled Holiday entitlement and pay during coronavirus (COVID-19), published 13 May 2020, whether non-medical NHS staff will be able to carry forward their annual leave entitlements for up to two years in line with their front line colleagues.

Paul Scully: Any individual who is a worker under the Working Time Regulations 1998 is entitled to 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave. 1.6 weeks of this annual leave can be carried forward into the next leave year if provided for in a binding written agreement between the worker and their employer. The Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 provide for the remaining four weeks of annual leave to be carried into the following two leave years if, due to the effects of coronavirus, it is not reasonably practicable for a worker to take this leave in the year to which it relates. This applies to all workers who are unable to take their annual leave due to the coronavirus, including non-medical NHS staff. It is a matter for individual employers and their workers to consider whether it is possible to facilitate a worker taking annual leave. In these unprecedented times, the Government urges employers to carefully consider the guidance and the welfare of their workforce.

Consumer Goods: Electrical Safety

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on (a) new online harms legislation and (b) the inclusion of the sale of unsafe electrical goods in that legislation.

Paul Scully: The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is engaging closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the issues of unsafe goods sold online. DCMS is continuing to scope the Online Harms regulation and is working to finalise the details of the regulatory framework. The Government response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation will be published in due course.

Consumer Goods: Electrical Safety

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps his Department has taken to prevent the sale of unsafe electrical goods on online platforms.

Paul Scully: The UK has a strong product safety system which requires that products should be safe before they can be placed on the market, including those sold online. Officials in OPSS are reviewing the product safety legislation to determine whether the existing legislative framework is adequate in light of the changes to traditional supply and distribution chains brought about by e-commerce.

Consumer Goods: Counterfeit Manufacturing

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with online platforms on preventing sales of counterfeit and substandard electrical goods on their websites.

Amanda Solloway: The Government takes the issue of IP infringement seriously, including counterfeit electrical goods, and is working with industry and law enforcement agencies on several initiatives to tackle this issue. Department officials have been holding roundtable meetings with representatives from online platforms and rights holders to discuss the availability of counterfeits on their platforms and to help co-ordinate law enforcement action against sellers.

Remote Working: Coronavirus

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the barriers which prevent people from working from home.

Paul Scully: As part of its ongoing work to support and promote the more widespread adoption of flexible working, Government has commissioned a programme of research. The results will be published in due course. Since Covid-19 measures were introduced there have been high proportions of people working from home with many businesses rapidly adapting to remote working, using new technology and finding new ways of working. As we move beyond the current situation, and the economy begins to reopen, we are very keen to do more to promote flexible working in all its forms. In our manifesto we said that, subject to consultation, we would introduce measures to make flexible working the default.

Future Circular Collider

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether it is Government policy to support the creation of the Future Circular Collider; and if he will make a statement.

Amanda Solloway: As a member of CERN’s governing Council, the UK has agreed to the 2020 update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics, and to the commencement of a technical and financial feasibility study for a next-generation hadron collider.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the costs incurred to date of developing a UK satellite system similar to the European Galileo system; and if he will make a statement.

Amanda Solloway: The purpose of any project engineering, design and development process is to research and understand what would best suit the UK’s requirements. We are taking the appropriate time to investigate the requirements, design specifications and costs as fully as possible. The UK GNSS programme incurred costs of approximately £45.5m up to March 31st 2020. For the period 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020 the GNSS Programme is managing costs within its budget allocation of approximately £18.7m.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the Government's policy is on developing its own satellite system as a replacement for the Galileo system.

Amanda Solloway: This Government has made clear its ambitions in space through a new ministerial level National Space Council and by developing a Space Strategy to bring long term strategic and commercial benefits for the UK. The Government recognises the contribution the space sector makes to our economy, national security, global influence and in helping the nation to tackle the COVID crisis. The GNSS programme is currently in its Engineering Design and Development Phase to research and understand what would best suit the UK's requirements.

Radioactive Waste: Russia

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the amount of nuclear waste transported from the UK to Russia in each of the last five years.

Nadhim Zahawi: There have been no shipments or other transports of nuclear waste from the UK to Russia in the last five years. The Government’s policy is to not allow the export of radioactive waste, except for treatment or processing, under the presumption it will be returned to the UK.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has for the reopening of (a) beauty and (b) tanning salons as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Paul Scully: The Government has published safer working guidance on 23 June for close contact services, including beauty and tanning salons. Following my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement, hairdressers and barbers in England will be able to reopen from 4 July, to offer hairdressing services, once they are following the COVID-secure guidelines. Other close contact services, like beauty and tanning salons, remain closed until further notice. We are taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, working with businesses, trade associations and medical experts on the safest way to reopen close contact services like beauty and tanning salons where there is often greater risk of transmission due to prolonged periods of face-to-face contact and close proximity between staff and customers. We intend to allow close contact services to re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.

Trade Marks: Legal Profession

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to ensure the equity of treatment of Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys across the UK and EU after the transition period; and whether he plans to ensure that attorneys from the EU do not have rights of representation before the UK Intellectual Property Office that are not reciprocated for UK attorneys before the EU Intellectual Property Office.

Amanda Solloway: On legal services, the UK’s starting point for negotiations with the EU is precedent-based. We aim to secure market access commitments for lawyers and minimise barriers to the cross-border supply of services and investment, on the basis of commitments like those in the Canada FTA. Rights of representation, whether before domestic courts in Member States or EU institutions, are the preserve of the Single Market and so do not form part of the UK approach to negotiations with the EU. Officials at the Intellectual Property Office are currently exploring options in relation to the rules on address for service once the transition period ends.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the scientific basis is to allow hair salons to reopen on 4 July 2020 as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased, but not beauty salons, massage therapists and tattoo parlours.

Paul Scully: Following my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement, from 4 July hairdressers and barbers in England will be able to reopen, to offer hairdressing services, once they are following the COVID-secure guidelines.Other close contact services, like massage therapists, beauty and tattoo parlours remain closed until further notice.We are taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, working with businesses, trade associations and medical experts on the safest way to reopen close contact services like massage therapists, beauty salons and tattoo parlours, where there is often greater risk of transmission due to prolonged periods of face-to-face contact and close proximity between staff and customers.We intend to allow close contact services, such as massage therapists, beauty salons and tattoo parlours to re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and SAGE provides world-leading scientific advice to the government. Any changes in approach depend on us continuing to meet the five tests.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing further financial support to beauty salons unable to re-open while existing covid-19 lockdown restrictions remain in place.

Paul Scully: The Government has announced an unprecedented package of measures to support businesses and individuals during Covid-19. In order to support businesses where restrictions remain in place, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until October 2020. The level of the grant will be slowly tapered to reflect that people will be returning to work. The Chancellor has also extended the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme with businesses adversely affected being able to claim for the first grant on or before 13 July 2020, and any businesses adversely affected on or after 14 July 2020 can make a claim in August 2020. Businesses are still able to apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme or The Bounce Back Loan Scheme. Additionally, beauty salons are able to continue benefiting from the 100% reduction in business rates for 12 months.

Satellites

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much the Government has invested in satellite operator OneWeb.

Amanda Solloway: The Chapter 11 bidding process for OneWeb is commercially sensitive, so it would not be appropriate to comment.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made in developing a replacement for the Galileo satellite navigation system.

Amanda Solloway: This Government has made clear its ambitions in space through a new ministerial level National Space Council and by developing a Space Strategy to bring long term strategic and commercial benefits for the UK. The Government recognises the contribution the space sector makes to our economy, national security, global influence and in helping the nation to tackle the COVID crisis.  A project led by the Cabinet Office is developing the UK's positioning navigation and timing (PNT) requirements, bringing together expertise from across Whitehall, industry and the PNT community to consider requirements across military, civil and Critical National Infrastructure sectors. In addition to other technologies, a UK GNSS capability could form part of the mix of solutions needed.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason tanning salons are currently unable to open as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are being eased; what assessment he has made of the risks of their opening; and what guidance he can provide on how to mitigate those risks.

Paul Scully: On 23 June, the Government published guidance for close contact services, including tanning salons, on how they can reopen safely once they are able to do so.We are taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, working with businesses, trade associations and medical experts on the safest way to reopen close contact services like massage therapists, beauty salons and tattoo parlours, where there is often greater risk of transmission due to prolonged periods of face-to-face contact and close proximity between staff and customers.We intend to allow close contact services, such as reflexologists and tattoo parlours to re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and making any changes to our approach depends on us continuing to meet the five tests.

Satellites

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what (a) scientific and (b) engineering advice his Department (i) received and (ii) considered in the decision to approve the allocation of funding for the OneWeb satellite system; and will he publish that advice.

Amanda Solloway: The Chapter 11 bidding process for OneWeb is commercially sensitive, so it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Satellites

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the ability of (a) OneWeb and (b) other Low Earth Orbit satellite constellations to be adapted to deliver navigation capability in the (i) short, (ii) medium and (iii) long term; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) that adaptation for the OneWeb constellation and (b) the number of devices which can receive the signals at the frequency and speed at which OneWeb satellites operate.

Amanda Solloway: Positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services underpin a wide range of essential UK public services and national capabilities. Work is ongoing across Government to determine the UK’s positioning, navigation, and timing requirements.The ongoing Chapter 11 bidding process for OneWeb is commercially sensitive, so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

Energy: Conservation

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Queen's Speech of December 2019, what progress has his Department made on investing £9.2 billion to improve the energy efficiency of homes and public buildings.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Tackling climate change and reaching our legally-binding emission reduction targets continue to be a top priority for the Government. We remain committed to our aspiration for as many homes as possible to reach Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035 where practical, cost-effective, and affordable. Improving the energy efficiency of existing homes will play a critical role in delivering our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, including Net Zero by 2050 as well as lifting households out of fuel poverty. We continue to enable greenhouse gas emission reductions in public buildings through the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme, and the fund for England will stand at £385 million by the end of 2020/21. BEIS remains committed to energy efficiency and decarbonising buildings, in line with the Manifesto commitment to invest £9.2 billion in low carbon buildings. The funding decisions are a matter for my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Energy: Conservation

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has encourage the uptake of energy efficiency retrofitting by households to increase private sector investment in that sector.

Kwasi Kwarteng: In the Clean Growth Strategy, we set our aspiration for as many homes as possible to be Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. The Government is planning to publish a Heat and Buildings Strategy in due course, which will set out the immediate actions we will take for reducing emissions from buildings. These actions include the deployment of energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating as part of an ambitious programme of work required to enable key strategic decisions on how we achieve the mass transition to low-carbon heat and set us on a path to decarbonising all homes and buildings.

Satellites

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the capacity of  OneWeb’s mega-constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit to deliver Government ambitions for UK navigation technology.

Amanda Solloway: We have made clear our ambitions for space and are developing a new National Space Strategy to bring long-term strategic and commercial benefits to the UK.We are in regular discussions with the space industry as part of this work.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to publish its feasibility study on the plan to build a UK  global navigation satellite system.

Amanda Solloway: This Government has made clear its ambitions in space through a new ministerial level National Space Council and by developing a Space Strategy to bring long term strategic and commercial benefits for the UK. The Government recognises the contribution the space sector makes to our economy, national security, global influence and in helping the nation to tackle the COVID crisis. The GNSS programme is currently in its Engineering Design and Development Phase to research and understand what would best suit the UK's requirements. The programme is taking the appropriate time to investigate the requirements, design specifications and costs as fully as possible. This work is ongoing, and we envisage that the majority of this will be complete this year.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Public Inquiries

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by his Department.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office do not currently have sponsorship responsibilities for any public inquiries.

Diplomatic Service: Training

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what additional training on the UK's development priorities Ambasadors will receive prior to the merger of his Department and the Department for International Development in September 2020.

James Cleverly: As the Prime Minister has said, merging the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) will bring together the best of what we do in development and diplomacy. As the world becomes ever more complex, we need single cross-government strategies, implemented on the ground by the Ambassador or High Commissioner heading all of HMG's work in-country. To facilitate this, the FCO is already working closely alongside DFID colleagues on our overall leadership offer on both development and diplomacy. One of the key objectives of the compulsory Overseas Leadership Programme undertaken by all Heads and Deputy Heads of Missions is preparing to represent the whole of HMG at Post. This includes sessions with DFID leaders to discuss development priorities and working together effectively as partners across Government. Many of our Heads and Deputy Heads of Mission have had experience of development issues prior to taking up their appointments. The full details of the merger will be set out in due course.

Malawi: Politics and Government

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Malawi.

James Duddridge: The UK welcomes the peaceful conduct of fresh Presidential elections in Malawi on 23 June. Malawi has a long history of respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Malawians can be rightly proud of their commitment to resolving political differences through their country's democratic institutions and processes, including in the aftermath of the contested 2019 Presidential elections. I sent my congratulations to President Chakwera on 29 June. As a long term friend of Malawi, I look forward to working with the new Government to tackle the issues that matter to all Malawians.The UK has consistently encouraged all political parties in Malawi to respect the rule of law, follow due process under the constitution, and respect the rulings of Malawi's courts. Following the May 2019 Presidential elections, we urged de-escalation of inflammatory rhetoric and peaceful campaigning from all sides. We also urged the parties to be mindful of the risks of holding an election campaign during the Covid pandemic. I reiterated these messages in a phone call with then Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs on 15 May, as did the UK Chargé d'Affaires in his meeting with then President Mutharika on 11 May.

Department for International Development: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he made of the potential merits of merging the Department for International Development with his Department prior to the planned Integrated Review of foreign, defence, security and development policy announced by the Prime Minister on 26 February 2020.

James Cleverly: The Prime Minister is committed to a unified British foreign policy that will maximise our influence around the world. The review will define the Government's ambition for the UK's global role and its outcomes will shape the objectives of the new department.

Overseas Aid: Gender

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be required to consider gender inequality ahead of allocating aid and other resources.

Wendy Morton: The UK's Gender Equality Act 2014 (an amendment to 2002 International Development Act, IDA), legally requires all overseas development funding to meaningfully consider the impact of how it will contribute to reducing gender inequality. The UK Aid Strategy prioritises the rights of women and girls under its fourth strategic goal of tackling extreme poverty and helping the world's most vulnerable.Spending 0.7 percent of our national income on aid is enshrined in law and the UK continues to abide by the OECD DAC rules for aid, which include the consideration of gender equality in how aid is spent. We will continue to look at how this money can be spent most effectively, including through the Integrated Review - which will inform the priorities of the new Department.Any decisions on spending aid will be taken by the ministerial team in the new Department, overseen by the Foreign Secretary and drawing on the expertise of FCDO staff.

Overseas Aid: Gender

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to publish reports on how that Department is supporting (a) gender quality and (b) women's empowerment.

Wendy Morton: The UK remains fully committed to supporting gender equality and women's empowerment, including every girl's right to 12 years of quality education. The integrated foreign policy review is expected to conclude later in the year, which will define the Government's ambition for the UK's role in the world and its outcomes will shape the objectives of the new Department. Both the review and the merger are evidence of the Prime Minister's commitment to a unified British foreign policy that will maximise our influence around the world, including on gender equality and women's empowerment.The FCO reports annually on its gender equality work in the FCO Annual report and the FCO Annual Human Rights Report. DFID's Annual Report and Accounts provides an update on key results, including on gender equality, every year. The FCDO will continue to report annually on how the Department is supporting gender equality and women's empowerment.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Taxis

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many private hire cars his Department has used since 2015; how long each journey was; and what the cost was of those journeys to the public purse.

Nigel Adams: Holding answer received on 30 June 2020



FCO policy states that staff should travel by the most efficient means of transport. Guidance on using private hire cars for official travel is set out in staff guidance and FCO policy is that public transport should be used whenever possible.

Gulf States: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which projects received funding from the Integrated Activity Fund in each of the last 5 years.

James Cleverly: Holding answer received on 01 July 2020



The Integrated Activity Fund was introduced in Financial Year 16/17 and supports a range of programmes and projects across the Gulf.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of British crew members on cruise ships around the world that are seeking to return to the UK; and what further steps he plans to take to ensure such crew members are repatriated.

Wendy Morton: We recognise this is a worrying time for British crew on board cruise ships around the world. It is primarily the responsibility of their employers - the cruise ship operators - to ensure the welfare and safety of their crew. The Government is in direct contact with these operators, as well as directly with many crew members and their families. Our overseas missions are liaising closely with local authorities in an effort to facilitate disembarkation and ensure British crew can access flights home.The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport wrote to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) on 23 March, reaffirming our international obligations on seafarers' welfare and transit, and calling for clear international guidance for port, flag, coastal states on seafarers' welfare and facilitating seafarer transit.Not all British crew are seeking to return to the UK. Some may wish to stay with the ship (with their employer's consent), while others may be required by their role to do so as part of the minimum safe manning requirements for the vessel. This is a legislative and flag state requirement to ensure the continued seaworthiness of vessels.

Afghanistan: Russia

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Russia and (b) the US on reports that the Russian Government allegedly offered to pay bounties to Taliban-linked fighters to kill US and UK troops in Afghanistan.

Wendy Morton: We do not comment on intelligence matters. We regularly discuss with NATO allies our responses to potential threats from Russia and as fellow Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, we engage directly with Russia on matters of international peace and security, including Afghanistan.

Israel: Cemeteries

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on the recent bulldozing of a historic Muslim cemetery in Jaffa.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the desecration of Muslim cemeteries in order to build housing projects.

James Cleverly: We have not made representations on this incident. The UK acknowledges the importance of preserving religious sites, including cemeteries. That is why defending Freedom of Religion or Belief, and promoting respect between different communities, is a human rights policy priority for the UK.

Israel: Palestinians

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to promote a two-state solution and prevent further Israeli annexation of occupied Palestinian territory.

James Cleverly: We continue to work closely with international partners strongly advocating a two-state solution and encouraging a return to meaningful negotiations. The Foreign Secretary did so most recently in a meeting with French and German Foreign Ministers on 19 June. He has also reiterated to Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry on 21 May and Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi on 28 May. The Prime Minister has conveyed the UK's opposition to unilateral annexation to Prime Minister Netanyahu on multiple occasions, including in a phone call in February and a letter in July. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this message in his introductory calls with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Gantz on 20 May and Foreign Minister Ashkenazi on 2 June. I also did so at the UN Security Council last week.

Department for International Development: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,what steps he is taking to support departmental staff affected by the proposed merging of his Department and the Department for International Development.

James Cleverly: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care

NHS: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to use hospital laboratories to increase the capacity to test NHS staff for covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries: National Health Service hospital laboratories are already being used to support the Government’s testing programme as part of an extensive programme of laboratories across the country processing COVID-19 tests. COVID-19 tests are processed by laboratories in pathology networks across England.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department holds information on people who have tested positive for covid-19 coming into contact with hospitals that do not have confirmed cases of covid-19-in the seven days preceding their positive test result.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 04 May 2020



The Department does not record this information as part of the information collected through COVID-19 testing programmes.Increased testing capacity means that we will now be able to extend regular testing to asymptomatic staff, guided by Public Health England and clinical advice. This approach has been piloted in a number of acute, community and mental health providers and will inform the further roll out of this policy. This pilot should help our understanding of in hospital and nosocomial transmission, with the aim of limiting it where possible.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authority public health officials receive data on positive covid-19 test results in their local authority area.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 20 May 2020



The priority has always been to ensure that public health bodies, such as Public Health England (PHE), have the data they require under the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations, and under the updates to the Control of Patient Information Regulations, to undertake their vital work in relation to contact tracing, case management and health surveillance. PHE provides the results to the appropriate local PHE Health Protection Team, who work with their respective local authorities as part of their routine public health response arrangements. We are developing a solution for our stakeholders to access the additional Management Information data that will further support their work, and local authorities and the National Health Service are top priorities.

Coronavirus: Screening

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of covid-19 test results have not been received (a) within seven days and (b) at all.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



The Department does not hold this information in the format requested.

Joint Biosecurity Centre

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Prime Minister’s announcement of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, what plans the Government has for the (a) budgets, (b) ministerial oversight and (c) senior leadership of that Centre.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



The Joint Biosecurity Centre is an integral part of the Test and Trace Service in the Department for Health and Social Care, and led by a Director General.

General Practitioners: Coronavirus

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether general practitioners are entitled to conduct covid-19 antibody tests on their own authority.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



Antibody tests are available to National Health Service and care staff, eligible patients and care residents in England to see if they have had COVID-19 as part of the new national antibody testing programme. The antibody test will be available for clinicians to use in their routine management of NHS patients as appropriate, and also for any patient who is already having blood taken as part of other tests. A positive test result for antibodies does not mean that the person being tested is immune to COVID-19. There is currently no firm evidence that the presence of antibodies means someone cannot be re-infected with the virus or will not pass it on to someone else. If someone tests positive, they still need to follow social distancing measures and appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

Coronavirus: Screening

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to make antibody tests available to the public through GPs.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



Antibody tests are available to National Health Service and care staff, eligible patients and care residents in England to see if they have had COVID-19 as part of the new national antibody testing programme. The antibody test will be available for clinicians to use in their routine management of NHS patients as appropriate, and also for any patient who is already having blood taken as part of other tests. A positive test result for antibodies does not mean that the person being tested is immune to COVID-19. There is currently no firm evidence that the presence of antibodies means someone cannot be re-infected with the virus or will not pass it on to someone else. If someone tests positive, they still need to follow social distancing measures and appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

Coronavirus: Screening

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many tests sent to the national covid-19 test processing centres are processed in (a) 48 hours, (b) 72 hours, (c) 96 hours, (d) one week and (e) more than one week; what the reasons are for longer processing times; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department does not hold this information in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of communicating test results within 24 hours to people displaying symptoms on the effectiveness of the test and trace system to reduce the R rate of covid-19 infection; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Government launched NHS Test and Trace on 28 May 2020. Contact tracing begins as soon as NHS Test and Trace receive notification that someone has tested positive for COVID-19. The more rapidly people can book a free test once symptoms start and we can communicate those test results, the quicker NHS Test and Trace service can identify people who may be at risk of infection and, if necessary, tell them to self-isolate, reduce the R rate and spread of the virus, and maintain transmission at low levels. We are tracing the contacts of thousands of positive cases, using both online services and over the phone, and we are encouraged by the progress so far. In total, since 28 May to 10 June 2020, 72.6% (10,192) of the people who tested positive for COVID-19 were reached by our contact tracers and asked to share details of their close contacts. 90.6% (87,639) of close contacts were reached and advised to self-isolate.

Cleft Palate: Health Services

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) financial and (b) healthcare support the Government is providing to people born with a cleft palate.

Helen Whately: NHS England commissions all specialist cleft palate services provided by Cleft Lip and Palate Centres, including services delivered on an outreach basis as part of a clinical network of services.The service provides surgery and specialist care for patients with cleft lip and/or palate and non-cleft velopharyngeal dysfunction in order to ensure that patients achieve an aesthetic and functional facial appearance, and to maximise oral feeding, hearing, speech and psycho-social wellbeing.Delivery of the service is through a network of care managed and delivered from the specialist centre. The network will commonly include outreach services and relies on strong links to and coordination with local community services. These local community services are commissioned by clinical commissioning groups including local speech and language therapy; local ear, nose and throat services and audiology; and community and local paediatric care. These locally delivered services work collaboratively with the Centres.Spend on related cleft lip and palate services in 2018/19 (the most recent year for which financial data is currently available) was £28.6 million.

Patients Know Best: Data Protection

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether personal data submitted under the Patient Knows Best scheme is sold on to companies for (a) research, (b) insurance  and (c) other purposes.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the NHS is of the contract for the Patient Knows Best scheme.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Personal data submitted cannot be sold on. Patients Know Best have entered into Information Sharing Agreement and Information Processing Agreements with local providers with clear provisions regulating the use of patient records compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation.The Innovation and Technology Payment (ITP) programme runs an annual competition to provide support for the adoption of new innovations in the National Health Service. The ITP Evidence Generation Fund (EGF) is focused on developing the evidence base to support the wider adoption of Personal Health Records (PHRs) across the health and care system. Patients Know Best, one supplier of PHRs, has been funded through the EGF from April 2019 to September 2020. £946,071 (including VAT) has been allocated to Patients Know Best to date.

Coronavirus: Quarantine

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of adults aged (a) 18 to 29, (b) 30 to 39, (c) 40 to 49, (d) 50 to 59, (e) 60 to 69, (f) 70 to 79, (f) over 80 in self-isolation as of 8 June 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 11 June 2020



Information on the number of people who have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace were published as experimental statistics on Thursday 11 June. These data refer to the first week of the service – 28 May – 3 June. The Department plans to publish similar information on a weekly basis. Over the coming weeks, as the service matures, more information will be provided on a weekly basis.

Learning Disability: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implication for his policies of the Care Quality Commission's published data of 2 June 2020 in relation to deaths of people with a learning disability as a result of covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 15 June 2020



Since the start of this outbreak we have been working closely with the sector and public health experts to put in place guidance and support for adult social care, including for people with learning disabilities.We have commissioned Public Health England to undertake a thorough analysis of the numbers of deaths of people with a learning disability. This will draw on data published by NHS England and the Care Quality Commission to give as complete a picture of the impact of COVID-19 on this group of people as possible.

NHS: Mental Health

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS staff have sought mental health support through the NHS staff mental health hotline since its launch in April 2020.

Helen Whately: The National Health Service staff support helpline was launched on 8 April 2020 and provides confidential listening, signposting, and support. It is operated by Samaritans from 7am – 11pm, seven days a week.From 8 April 2020 until 12 June 2020 there have been 3,120 calls to the helpline. This information was collected by Samaritans.

NHS: Overseas Workers

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the exemption for registered health or care professionals travelling to the UK to provide essential healthcare, including where this is not related to coronavirus, in quarantine rules applies to health care professionals who currently work in the NHS but have gone abroad and are now returning.

Helen Whately: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 are clear in that they include an exemption for registered healthcare professionals from the requirement to quarantine, if they are required to return to, or start work within 14 days of arrival in the United Kingdom, if they are staying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Contact Tracing: Training

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the training programme undertaken by NHS Test and Trace contact tracers includes information on (a) identifying child abuse and neglect and b) the steps to take in the event that they suspect a child is at risk.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 18 June 2020



All organisations that we work with are experts in undertaking call handling and have standard quality assurance processes that help drive continuous improvement from the point we go live.A training package has been put together by experts in health protection and field epidemiology. Staff who join as call handlers’ for Tier 3 and ‘clinical staff’ for Tiers 1 and 2 are required to complete Level 2 adult and child safe-guarding training. The training undertaken addresses both adult and child safeguarding training and identify when concerns should be escalated. Policies are in place to ensure contact tracers know how to escalate concerns.Where contact tracers identify potential child abuse and neglect, they escalate these cases straight away to a specialist team for review and onward referral to the appropriate authorities.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2020 to Question 53422 on Aviation: Coronavirus, to which NHS hospitals were sick passengers identified by cabin crew transferred or further assessment and covid-19 testing between 22 January 2020 and 12 March 2020; and how many passengers were transferred to each of those NHS hospitals.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 22 June 2020



From the records held in the central airport monitoring hub a total of 62 sick passengers were identified by cabin crew. Data on which National Health Service hospitals passengers were transferred to after possible COVID-19 identification by cabin crew are not available.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on NHS Test and Trace staff who are waiting for work.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Government launched NHS Test and Trace on 28 May 2020. This includes enhanced contact tracing which brings together testing, contact tracing and outbreak management into an end-to-end service.We have recruited 27,000 contact tracing staff in England to support this service. These staff are a mix of call handlers and health professionals. Final agreed contract values of procuring the call handling service will be published in the individual Contract Award Notices in the Official Journal of the European; and we publish certain information on Contracts Finder about contracts awarded.These staff are in addition to existing public health experts from Public Health England (PHE) and local government. PHE staff are not employed exclusively as ‘contact tracers’. Contact tracing is undertaken by local health protection teams and the field epidemiology service who are trained in contact tracing and undertake more complex contact tracing work but also carry out other roles.

Coronavirus: Demonstrations

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will amend the Health protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations (England) 2020 to clarify that peaceful demonstrations constitute a reasonable excuse for a gathering; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 22 June 2020



The Government strongly supports the right to peaceful protest; however, this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms temporarily being curtailed in order to protect and save lives. Peaceful demonstrations are a vital part of democratic society and we understand the strength of feeling around the death of George Floyd. However, COVID-19 remains a real and present threat to all of us. As the Prime Minister announced in his oral statement to the House on 23 June, Official Report, columns 1167-1170, the social distancing Regulation are being amended from 4 July to allow for increased social contact, however gatherings of 30 or more people will remain illegal.The management of protests and the use of powers are an operational matter for the police.

Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to include a full necessity and proportionality assessment in the 28 day reviews of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (England) 2020.

Helen Whately: The Government is keeping its social distancing measures under continual review. If at any time we judge that one of the measures is no longer necessary to protect public health we are required by law to change that measure.The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 26 March and have been amended four times (21 April, 12 May, 31 May, and 12 June) to reflect technical changes and the outcomes of the three previous reviews (16 April, 7 May and 28 May). At each of these review points we have considered the necessity and proportionality of existing measures. The changes made with each amendment have been in relation to removing restrictions that are no longer considered proportionate or necessary, in light of the evolving situation. This is consistent with the approach taken for the review on 23 June which the Prime Minister outlined in an oral statement to the House on the same day, Official report, columns 1167-1170.

Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (England) 2020

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide written and oral statements to Parliament following each 28 day review of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (England) 2020 to disclose the findings of those reviews.

Helen Whately: The Government is keeping its social distancing measures under continual review. If at any time we judge that one of the measures is no longer necessary to protect public health we are required by law to change that measure.The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 26 March and have been amended four times (21 April, 12 May, 31 May, and 12 June) to reflect technical changes and the outcomes of the three previous reviews (16 April, 7 May and 28 May). At each review point of the Health Protection Regulations, the Government has provided a written or oral statement to Parliament. The Prime Minister made oral statements to the Commons on 11 May, Official report, columns 24-27, and 23 June, Official report, columns 1167-1170. The Prime Minister’s statement on 23 June outlined the changes being implemented after the fourth review, which come into effect on 4 July. In addition, we have made Written Ministerial Statements to the House of Commons and the House of Lords on 28 April (HCWS206) and 2 June (HCWS253). This process will be continued by the Government following future reviews.

Social Distancing: Supported Housing

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he made of the need for adults in supported living to receive emotional support through contact with family members when drafting his Department's guidance on covid-19 social distancing measures.

Helen Whately: The Government acknowledges that social distancing policy is having an impact on mental health and wellbeing. Public Health England has published guidance on social distancing and self-isolation, and advice on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak.On 23 June, the Prime Minister announced changes to the Regulations which come into effect on 4 July. Included in these changes is that two households of any size can now meet inside and outdoors. This change in the Regulations enables more opportunity for emotional support through contact with family members for those in supported living.The Department and Public Health England are currently updating the guidance for supported living provision to include advice on visiting in light of the easing of rules for social gatherings. We expect this guidance to be published shortly.

Midwives: EU Nationals

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many midwives from the EU are working in the NHS in the latest period for which data is available, broken down by each EU nationality.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 23 June 2020



NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups, but not staff working in primary care, general practitioner surgeries, local authorities or other providers.The following table shows the number of midwives as at December 2019, the latest available data from each European Union nationality, headcount.NationalityMidwives, HeadcountAustrian11Belgian15Bulgarian27Cypriot1Czech17Danish19Dutch60Estonian4Finnish10French56German51Greek32Hungarian17Irish296Italian226Latvian5Lithuanian17Maltese2Polish118Portuguese45Romanian17Slovak11Slovenian1Spanish240Swedish22All EU1,329United Kingdom23,986Rest of the World448All Unknowns989

NHSX: Public Appointments

Joanna Cherry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the membership of the Oversight Board of NHSX, chaired by Mark Gould.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 24 June 2020



There is no Oversight Board for NHSX, which is a joint unit of the Department with NHS England and NHS Improvement. Matthew Gould is the Chief Executive.

Social Distancing: Visual Impairment

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what advice has been provided to blind and partially-sighted people about the operation of social distancing; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: The Government are committed to supporting blind and partially sighted people through every stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and are working across Government to ensure that all disabled people are able to get the support they need. The Government has set out in guidance to businesses that they should consider the particular needs of those with protected characteristics, such as those who are visually impaired, at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb9703de90e07082fa57ce0/working-safely-during-covid-19-shops-branches-v2-140620.pdfIf a blind and/or partially sighted person needs to go out for a walk or to access essential goods they can contact friends or family who may be able to help the person to be guided safely. If a person cannot organise alternative care they can contact their local authority or health care provider. The Government has published advice regarding social distancing for blind and/or partially sighted individuals who need to go out for a walk or to access essential goods. The regulations allow for a person from another household to guide them (under the ‘provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person’ provision). This guidance can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-providing-unpaid-care/guidance-for-those-who-provide-unpaid-care-to-friends-or-family

Midwives: EU Nationals

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many midwives work in NHS England by each EU nationality.

Helen Whately: NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups, but not staff working in primary care, general practitioner surgeries, local authorities or other providers.The following table shows the number of midwives as at December 2019, the latest available data from each European Union nationality, headcount.NationalityMidwives, HeadcountAustrian11Belgian15Bulgarian27Cypriot1Czech17Danish19Dutch60Estonian4Finnish10French56German51Greek32Hungarian17Irish296Italian226Latvian5Lithuanian17Maltese2Polish118Portuguese45Romanian17Slovak11Slovenian1Spanish240Swedish22All EU1,329United Kingdom23,986Rest of the World448All Unknowns989

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what was the cost to the public purse of the development of the original centralised covid-19 contact-tracing app.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 24 June 2020



To date, the cost of developing the National Health Service COVID-19 app is £10.8 million. Our investment in the Isle of Wight phase has provided us with valuable information that we can combine with Google and Apple’s technology in a new solution to support the entire NHS Test and Trace service in a product that is right for the British public.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which (a) companies and (b) other organisations received funding from the public purse to work on the Government's centralised coronavirus contact-tracing app.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 24 June 2020



The National Health Service continues to work constructively with organisations that are helping to develop and test the NHS COVID-19 App. These companies include VMware/Vmware Pivotal Labs, Zuhlke Engineering, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, the University of Oxford, the BBC, the RAF, as well as partners in countries including Singapore, Norway, Ireland, Switzerland, New Zealand and Germany.For more information on companies and organisations that have received funding, details on individual contracts can be found on Contract Finder on GOV.UK.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timeframe is for the Test and Trace regime to be fully operational.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 24 June 2020



NHS Test and Trace is a new, large-scale service, which launched on 28 May.We have recruited 27,000 contact tracing staff in England to support this service. In addition, a package of £300 million of new funding has been made available to local authorities to work with NHS Test and Trace to develop local outbreak control plans, building on the work already done so far to respond to COVID-19. The latest data shows that in total, since 28 May 2020:- 21,105 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in England and of these 20,968 (99.4%) were transferred for contract tracing;- 72.6% (15,225) of the people who tested positive for COVID-19 were reached by our contact tracers and asked to share details of their close contacts; and- 88.6% (113,925) of close contacts were reached and advised to self-isolate.We are working to reach more people – and continually making improvements to the service to do that.

Health Professions: Students

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to cancel the tuition fees of NHS staff who graduated early to treat people with covid-19.

Helen Whately: There are no plans to cancel tuition fees for National Health Service staff who have graduated early and joined the NHS to support the COVID-19 response.

Health Services: Stress

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce stress in the health sector workplace.

Helen Whately: The health and wellbeing of National Health Service staff is very important to the Government. We anticipated that they would potentially need additional mental health support to help them face any additional stresses from COVID-19 response.We commissioned NHS England and NHS Improvement at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak to develop a comprehensive package of emotional, psychological and practical support for NHS staff - building on local support already in place. NHS Employers’ latest mental wellbeing guidance also encourages managers to remind their staff to take breaks and discuss their emotional wellbeing.The NHS People Plan will set out a ‘new offer’, detailing the health and wellbeing support that all NHS staff can expect to receive from their employer.

Dementia: Coronavirus

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for the covid-19 social care taskforce, announced on 8 June 2020, to review the effect of covid-19 on people affected by dementia.

Helen Whately: The Social Care Sector COVID-19 Support Taskforce will ensure the delivery of two packages of support that the Government has put in place for the care sector – the Social Care Action Plan and the Care Homes Support Plan. The Taskforce will be supported by several advisory groups including one on support for older people and people living with dementia.We are monitoring the impact of the pandemic. We have commissioned research through the National Institute for Health Research on how to manage or mitigate the psychological, physical and social impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia living in the community, and their carers. Work has already started with phased outputs to August 2020. The project has produced a leaflet for people living with dementia, and a leaflet for carers of people living with dementia. These are available at the following link:http://www.idealproject.org.uk/covid/

Contact Tracing: Germany

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with his German counterpart on their covid-19 contact tracing app; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 25 June 2020



We have been in constant contact with a number of countries to share what we are learning and that will continue.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on developing the (a) NHS covid-19 app and (b) Apple/Google designed app.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 25 June 2020



To date, the cost of developing the National Health Service COVID-19 app is £10.8 million.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse was of the Isle of Wight pilot of the NHS covid-19 tracing app.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 25 June 2020



To date, the total cost of developing the National Health Service COVID-19 app is £10.8 million and our investment in the Isle of Wight phase has provided us with valuable information that we can combine with Google and Apple’s technology in a new solution to support the entire NHS Test and Trace service.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the Government spent on developing its NHSX contact tracing app.

Ms Nadine Dorries: To date the cost of developing the National Health Service COVID-19 app is £10.8 million.

Visual Impairment: Social Distancing

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the exceptions to social distancing rules are for people with visual impairments who depend on assistance from others.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 25 June 2020



The Government is committed to supporting blind and partially sighted people through every stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and are working across Government to ensure that all disabled people are able to get the support they need.If a blind and/or partially sighted person needs to go out for a walk or to access essential goods they can contact friends or family who may be able to help the person to be guided safely. If a person cannot organise alternative care they can contact their local authority or health care provider. The Government has published advice regarding social distancing for blind and/or partially sighted individuals who need to go out for a walk or to access essential goods. The regulations allow for a person from another household to guide them (under the ‘provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person’ provision). This guidance can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-providing-unpaid-care/guidance-for-those-who-provide-unpaid-care-to-friends-or-familyOn 23 June, the Prime Minister announced changes to the Regulations which come into effect on 4 July. Included in these changes is that two households of any size can now meet inside and outdoors. This change in the Regulations enables more opportunity for assistance through contact with family members for those with visual impairments.

Joint Biosecurity Centre

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2020 to Question 49643 on Joint Biosecurity Centre: Staff and the Answer of 8 June to Question 49644 on Joint Biosecurity Centre, what progress he has made on the (a) establishment, (b) funding and (c) staffing of the new Joint Biosecurity Centre.

Helen Whately: The Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) announced the appointment of its Director General Claire Gardiner on 5 June and is an integral part of the Test and Trace Service in the Department. It engages with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including other Government departments. Like the wider Test and Trace Service, we will be as transparent as possible in our work and, wherever we can, will publish our delivery figures and publications. Staffing levels currently stand at just under 200 people.

Members: Correspondence

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter of 23 March 2020 on home care workers from the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North.

Helen Whately: I replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 26 June 2020.

Social Services

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will restore as soon as it is safe to do so the Care Act 2004 duties on local authorities to ensure that the care of elderly, vulnerable and/or disabled people is not diminished.

Helen Whately: Public safety throughout this period is the Government’s top priority and this includes keeping those who need care and support safe. The changes to the Care Act 2014 duties on local authorities will be kept under review and the Secretary of State will suspend them based on expert clinical and social care advice, in accordance with the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the estimated cost to the public purse has been of the NHS covid-19 track and trace app.

Ms Nadine Dorries: To date the cost of developing the National Health Service COVID-19 app is £10.8 million.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the (a) development of the Track and Trace app and (b) merger of that app with Google and Apple.

Ms Nadine Dorries: To date the cost of developing the National Health Service COVID-19 app is £10.8 million. We will publish the total costs in due course.

Contact Tracing: Mobile Phones

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which companies won Government contracts to develop the covid-19 track and trace app; and what the value of those contracts was.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Details on individual contracts can be found on Contract Finder on GOV.UK. Companies which helped to develop the National Health Service COVID-19 contact tracing app include Vmware/Vmware Pivotal Labs, Zuhlke Engineering, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the additional cost will be of the further data protection requirements of the new covid-19 track and trace app.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We will publish the total costs in due course.

Alzheimer's Disease: Tea

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the potential effect of drinking tea on reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Helen Whately: The Government has had no discussions with stakeholders on any potential effect of drinking tea on reducing the risk of dementia.The Challenge on Dementia 2020 commitments included action on risk reduction, and messaging has been incorporated in the NHS Health Check for all eligible adults in England aged 40-74 to increase dementia awareness and motivate people in midlife to make positive changes to reduce the risks.To reduce the risk of dementia the Government recommends:- eating a healthy diet as depicted in the Eatwell Guide;- maintaining a healthy weight;- exercising regularly;- not drinking too much alcohol;- stopping smoking; and- keeping blood pressure at a healthy level. The Eatwell Guide is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide

Social Services: Housing

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with representatives from the care sector on increasing the level of private sector investment in the housing with care sector.

Helen Whately: Housing-with-care has a vital role in enabling older people to live independently, with the necessary care and support available if required. In the context of an ageing population, we will continue to work with the sector to improve the diversity of housing options available to older people.

Health Professions: Training

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with (a) trade unions (b) royal colleges that represent nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students on changes to the current system of tuition fees and maintenance grants.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



Ministers regularly meet with key stakeholders including trade union and royal college representatives, to discuss the Government’s approach to National Health Service workforce supply and the financial support available to nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students.In 2017 pre-registration nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students became eligible for tuition fee and maintenance loans instead of receiving an NHS Bursary. We also introduced the Learning Support Fund which provides a child dependents allowance, reimbursement of all additional travel costs to attend clinical placements and an exceptional hardship fund.In December 2019, the Government announced that from September 2020, all eligible new and continuing pre-registration nursing, midwifery and most allied health profession students studying at English universities would benefit from a new, non-repayable, training grant of at least £5,000 per academic year in addition to the funding available already through the Learning Support Fund.Students on the loans system receive at least 25% more funding for living costs support than under the previous system.

NHS: Apprentices

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of backfilling costs in the NHS on the NHS' ability to provide affordable apprenticeships programmes for (a) nursing and (b) other careers in healthcare.

Helen Whately: The Department for Education operate the apprenticeship levy to support employers across all sectors to undertake training as apprentices. Apprenticeships funding can be used to cover the eligible costs of training and assessment for the apprentice, but it currently does not allow costs of backfill to be met – this falls to National Health Service employers employing apprentices.We recognise that the nursing apprenticeship requires a high percentage of apprentice time spent in off the job training. Apprenticeships are real jobs with training and employers cover employment costs as they would with any employee, including wages while training.Apprenticeships continue to play a vital role in delivering the high-quality skills employers need and that will support our economic recovery post COVID-19.

Apprentices and Education: Coronavirus

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on education and apprenticeships in the NHS.

Helen Whately: Health Education England (HEE) has continued to prioritise education and training during the COVID-19 outbreak. Regulatory bodies representing health and social care professions have issued statements on how training and education is being managed during this outbreak. HEE and NHS Improvement are working with professional bodies to ensure staff training continues during COVID-19, such as moving studies online.

NHS: Coronavirus

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the wellbeing of NHS trainees during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The health and wellbeing of National Health Service trainees is very important to the Government. We commissioned NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a comprehensive package of emotional, psychological and practical support.NHS England and NHS Improvement launched the support package on 8 April 2020. The support package is available to all NHS trainees and it includes a helpline and text service for counselling and support, a dedicated bereavement helpline, and a range of well-being apps. All the support available can be accessed via the following link:people.nhs.uk/helpMedical trainees will continue to have access to the support of their clinical and educational supervisors, their schools and Performance Support and Wellbeing Units. Health Education England has introduced the ‘Wellness Check in’ to ensure learners know how to seek help.

Social Services: Minimum Wage

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a social care minimum wage.

Helen Whately: The Government does not set the levels of pay for care workers; however, we are committed to raising the profile of the social care sector. Putting social care on a sustainable footing, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, is one of the biggest challenges that we face as a society. There are complex questions to address, which is why we have invited cross-party talks. These will take place at the earliest opportunity in light of the current circumstances. The Government will then bring forward a plan for social care for the longer term.

Nurses: Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are currently working towards nursing degree apprenticeships in England.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



Public sector organisations in scope to meet the public sector apprentice target provide data annually to the Department for Education. Data on the numbers of people currently working towards nursing degree apprenticeships, termed ‘participation’, is not available in year.Available data on apprentice starts and participation is included in the following table.-2017/182018/192019/20 (August - AprilStarts13001,040770Participation3001,330- Note:[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships-june-2020

NHS: Digital Technology

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to undertake a review of the (a) effectiveness and (b) outcomes of the Digital First programme in (i) primary care and (ii) other NHS service settings.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



The Digital First programme supports the delivery of access to primary care and helps patients and their carers manage their health. The NHS Long Term Plan commits that every patient will have the right to be offered digital-first primary care by 2023-24. An independent evaluation of Digital First has been commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement and is now underway. The evaluation will provide evidence on the impact of online consultation systems on patients, general practitioner practices and the wider health and social care system and will be used to inform policy and other digital initiatives. Other National Health Service settings have implemented new digital ways of working during the COVID-19 pandemic and there will be much to learn from these.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to provide regular updates on the rules on physical contact for long-term partners living in separate households who do not fit the criteria to form a social bubble; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: The Government is keeping its social distancing measures under continual review. If at any time we judge that one of the measures is no longer necessary to protect public health we are required by law to change that measure. The Government have provided updates on the changes to the Regulations through both written and oral statements and will continue to do so for future amendments.On 23 June, the Prime Minister announced changes to the Regulations which come into effect on 4 July. Included in these changes is that people can meet people from other households in all settings including indoors.To limit the spread of the virus, the Government is advising that meetings with other households should be limited so that you are only meeting one other household, excluding your support bubble, at a time. We are also advising that social distancing is maintained between those who do not live in the same household or are a part of a support bubble.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much has been spent on developing the Government’s covid-19 contact tracing app to date; which companies were paid sums as part of that process; how much each such company received; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that expenditure.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The cost of the National Health Service COVID-19 app will be £10.8 million as of 30 June 2020. This figure is based on the spend for developing and hosting the app together with associated policy, project, evaluation, assurance related activity. Details on individual contracts can be found on under Contract Finder on GOV.UK. Companies which helped to develop the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app include VMware/VMware Pivotal Labs, Zuhlke Engineering, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services. Our investment in the Isle of Wight phase has provided us with valuable information that we can now take forward in a new solution that is right for the British public.

Social Services: Reform

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) plans and (b) support he is putting in place to reform the social care sector and help it recover from the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 30 June 2020



The Government’s priority for adult social care during the pandemic is for everyone who relies on care to get the care they need. We are doing all we can to protect carers and people receiving care from the still present risk of infection.We know that this does not reduce the need for a long-term action plan for social care. Putting social care on a sustainable footing, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, is one of the biggest challenges that we face as a society.There are complex questions to address in considering the future of social care, which is why we have invited cross-party talks. These will take place at the earliest opportunity in light of the current circumstances. The Government will then bring forward a plan for social care for the longer term.Our support to the sector includes £3.2 billion made available to local authorities so they can address pressures on local services caused by the pandemic, including in adult social care. On 15 May we published details of an additional £600 million Infection Control Fund for Adult Social Care. This funding is to support adult social care providers in England reduce the rate of transmission in and between care homes and to support workforce resilience.

Coronavirus: Prosecutions

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the the CPS's findings that 53 unlawful and no lawful prosecutions have been pursued in England and Wales under the powers provided by Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act 2020, what plans he has to revise his assessment of the necessity of   Schedule 21 in his two month report on that Act.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus Act 2020

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the powers provided under Schedule 22 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 having not been used despite the outbreak having peaked in the UK and a public health response period having not been invoked, what plans he has to revise his assessment of the necessity of Schedule 22 in his two month report on that Act.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Midwives: Coronavirus

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) home birth services and (b) midwifery units temporarily closed between 1 March 2020 to date due to the covid-19 outbreak; for how long each such service was closed; and how many of those services have since reopened.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of locating covid-19 testing facilities in major train stations and transport hubs to ensure that passengers and commuters have convenient access to those facilities.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Health Services

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is he taking to support patients with long-term symptoms arising from contracting covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Distancing: Households

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether two households meeting in a home after 4 July 2020 are advised to remain one meter apart.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether one household is able to stay overnight in another household's home.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Autism: Suicide

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 285039, what steps his Department is taking to reduce instances of suicide amongst people with autism.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Dental Council: Coronavirus

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the efficiency and effectiveness of the General Dental Council during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Distancing: Households

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are able to meet inside from 4 July 2020 from different households if they are able to remain socially distanced.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services: Mental Illness

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the temporary Care Act easements, created under the Coronavirus Act 2020, on access to social care for people with mental health problems.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to review the temporary Care Act easements, created under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what advice his Department has taken from clinical and social care experts on discontinuing the Care Act easements, established under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Professions: Sick Pay

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) practice nurses and (b) healthcare assistants working in general practice who have been paid Statutory Sick Pay whilst they have been self-isolating with covid-19 symptoms.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carers: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the additional stress placed on carers, during the covid-19 lockdown as a result of the (a) continued closure of Day Care Centres and other organisations which normally provide respite time to carers; (b) withdrawal of other measures of support for carers, unless a care package is in place and (c) unavailability of people to substitute for carers, by day or night, when those carers would usually be at work; what the impact will be on carers and those for whom they care of the continued absence of sources of respite and support; what assessment he has made of the effect on NHS resources in the event that carers suffer mental breakdown as a result of an inability to cope; and if he will take steps to facilitate the (i) reopening of Day Care Centres, with suitable safeguards in place and (ii) provision of other measures of support to carers.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Disability: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the  higher mortality rates from covid-19 reported by the Office for National Statistics among disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to reinstate the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pharmacy: Protective Clothing

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release of 5 June 2020 stating that all staff in hospitals in England will be provided with surgical masks which they will be expected to wear from 15 June 2020, whether his Department has (a) made an assessment of the potential merits of applying that policy to the pharmacy sector (b) plans to extend that policy to include community pharmacy teams.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Laboratories

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue guidance to dental practices to settle dental laboratory accounts on receipt of NHS contract payments.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Laboratories

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support dental laboratories during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Smoking: Young People

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish his Department's response to the potential funding options for programmes to reduce smoking uptake amongst young people in the Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s consultation, which closed on 14 October 2019.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Smoking

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Advancing our health:prevention in the 2020s, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) Lambeth, (b) Southwark, (c) London and (d) England are smoke-free by 2030.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care: Correspondence

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to the letter from UK members of the Body Politic Covid-19 Support Group of 29 March 2020 on support for individuals experiencing long-term ill health after contracting covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2020 to Question 51868 on Coronavirus: Screening, what the cost to the public purse is of contracts awarded to commercial organisations to carry out covid-19 testing.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Death Certificates

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timeframe is for the reintroduction of the certification of death processes as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the challenges associated with the equitable and efficient international supply and distribution of a vaccine for covid-19.

Wendy Morton: On 27 June, the PM told Global Citizen’s international summit that world leaders have a moral duty to ensure that vaccines, treatments and tests are truly available to all. We are working with international partners, including industry, to agree collaborative approaches to supporting vaccine development, manufacturing scale-up and future distribution to meet both domestic and international needs.The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), to which we have provided £250 million this year, is committed to ensuring that appropriate vaccines are available to populations when and where they are needed, regardless of a country's ability to pay. CEPI selects vaccines for its portfolio based on their potential for success, rapid development and scalability. CEPI negotiates global access requirements as part of its funding agreements.Through the COVAX partnership, under the Access to Covid Tools (ACT)-Accelerator, CEPI, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization are working together to ensure that the vaccines are affordable and available equitably. As part of this, Gavi’s Advance Market Commitment (AMC) will incentivise vaccine manufacturers to produce sufficient quantities of eventual COVID-19 vaccines and to ensure access for LMICs. The UK has contributed £48 million to the AMC.

Humanitarian Aid: Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to integrate its (a) development and (b) humanitarian initiatives to protect children from violence in its response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The UK Government is committed to protecting vulnerable children and helping them to grow up free from violence through COVID-19 and beyond. DFID is working with international partners to ensure that child protection is prioritised and integrated into the multi-sectoral response to the pandemic.We have committed £296 million to support the global health response and vulnerable countries, including £145 million to UN appeals. This includes: £20 million to UNICEF to support the continuity of essential social services for children, women and vulnerable populations, including child protection; £20 million to UNHCR to ensure continuity of critical protection activities, including child protection, through community-based interventions, remote protection interventions and counselling using a variety of channels and; £5 million to Education Cannot Wait to support children in crisis settings while they are out of school.DFID is also working with all our humanitarian partners to ensure that they mainstream child protection within their operations and use available guidance and tools, including the 2019 Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. DFID’s existing development programmes – which often support crisis-affected communities - have also adapted to the pandemic, integrating urgent response measures to keep children safe. For example, our Children on the Move programme, which is improving the child protection system for children migrating in Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, has now established hotline services for children affected by the pandemic and is training social workers in family tracing.

Coronavirus: Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to prioritise child protection in its response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The UK Government is committed to protecting vulnerable children and helping them to grow up free from violence through COVID-19 and beyond. DFID is working with international partners to ensure that child protection is prioritised and integrated into the multi-sectoral response to the pandemic. We have provided £20 million to UNICEF to support the continuity of essential social services for children, women and vulnerable populations, including child protection.DFID is adapting its child protection programming to respond to COVID-19. For example, our support to the UN Global Programme to End Child Marriage is responding across 12 countries by strengthening national child helplines and the social welfare workforce and raising awareness on child marriage risks through radio stations. In Ethiopia we have provided an additional £5 million to UNICEF, which is supporting the provision of Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support services to affected children and families and capacity building for frontline health and education workers on child protection risks.Keeping children safe while they are out of school is a priority for DFID. The UK is the largest donor to Education Cannot Wait and we recently agreed an additional £5 million of funding for the COVID-19 response that is supporting emergency education measures and information campaigns, and upgrading water and sanitation facilities in schools. As the largest donor to the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children our £5 million contribution to the Safe to Learn campaign is now focusing on keeping children safe in the out-of-school learning environment.

Forced Marriage: Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to progress its work on ending child marriage after the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The UK remains resolute in our commitment to end child marriage, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The UK’s Strategic Vision on Gender Equality is clear on this.Through our flagship investments, DFID committed a total of £39 million over 5 years (2015-2020) to support international efforts to end child marriage, in 12 high prevalence countries across the world. Since 2015 the programme has reached over 7.7 million girls with schooling initiatives, skills training and girls’ clubs to prevent and respond to child marriage.This programme is now adapting to respond to COVID-19 by strengthening national child helplines and the social welfare workforce and raising awareness on child marriage risks.DFID also tackles child marriage through a range of other programmes, including on women and girls’ empowerment and girls’ education. Making progress on ending child marriage will remain a key focus through and beyond COVID-19, including as part of our work to deliver the Prime Minister’s commitment to champion 12 years of quality education for girls.

Coronavirus: Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to integrate its policy on (a) mental health support, (b) psychosocial support and (c) child protection in its response to the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on children.

Wendy Morton: The UK Government is committed to supporting vulnerable populations during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, including children. We have committed £296 million to support the global health response and vulnerable countries, including £145 million to UN appeals. This includes £20 million to UNICEF to support essential social services for children, women and vulnerable populations, including child protection, and £5 million to Education Cannot Wait to support children in crisis settings while they are out of school including mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) interventions.DFID’s country programmes supporting vulnerable children have also adapted to Covid-19, including in Ethiopia where we have provided an additional £5 million to UNICEF to support the provision of MHPSS services to affected children and families.DFID will be publishing a new Position Paper and Theory of Change on mental health to act as a global tool for Covid-19 responses. This has been developed in consultation with the mental health sector and provides practical advice for DFID and the sector as to how to support those with mental health and psychosocial disabilities.

Rohingya: Refugees

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on her Department's support for the Rohingya refugees.

Nigel Adams: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Rohingya refugee camps. From the start of the crisis, DFID has worked with partners to help mitigate the impact of the virus on the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar. Our existing work has been adapted to respond to the crisis. UK funding has helped to establish isolation and treatment centres, such as a 60-bed facility, to treat severe and critical cases, as well as the delivery of home-based healthcare and monitoring. We are supporting WHO to coordinate the health response with the Government. Our funding is also distributing soap and building more handwashing structures; and producing and rolling out a range of communication tools to share vital information.While we have prioritised budget and activities to focus on the immediate impact of COVID-19, we continue to deliver our routine support comprising providing food and nutrition, shelter, health, protection, water and sanitation, targeted support for women and girls, and the elderly. We also fund the education sector which – while learning centres are closed - is supporting caregivers for learning at home and preparing for the Myanmar curriculum pilot rollout.Whilst every effort is being made to minimise transmission in the camps, the highly congested conditions and vulnerability of the population will pose major challenges when cases reach peak levels. We will continue to work closely with our implementing partners and the humanitarian community in Cox’s Bazar to respond as best as possible.We remain committed in our support of Rohingya refugees in both Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Development Secretary has recently undertaken a virtual visit to Bangladesh and had the opportunity to see the continued humanitarian needs of the Rohingya. She stressed the UK’s continued commitment to helping Bangladesh and the refugees the country is hosting.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Humanitarian Aid

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on her Department's humanitarian work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

James Duddridge: In June 2020, the UN published revised estimates that 25.6 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance in DRC, an increase from the previous estimate of 15.6 million. This increase is primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 on food security and the already fragile healthcare system. In addition, access challenges, disruption to supply chains, and increased insecurity will continue to exacerbate humanitarian needs.The UK is continuing to respond at scale to meet urgent humanitarian needs and has adapted our programmes to reduce the risk of, and respond to, COVID-19 transmission.

Coronavirus: Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to (a) assess and tackle the increased risk of child labour as a result of the covid-19 pandemic and (b) ensure its covid-19 response prioritises the protection of children.

James Cleverly: DFID is working as quickly as possible to assess and respond to the unprecedented challenges arising from COVID-19 and provide support to vulnerable populations most at risk, especially children.We are working closely with delivery partners on the ground to adapt our programmes to support vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19. We continue to push for coordinated action to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking at the international level to mitigate the primary and secondary impacts of the pandemic.For example, through the £26 million Asia Regional Child Labour Programme, UNICEF is identifying and tracking vulnerable children in India and Pakistan and linking them to social protection systems. They are also supporting governments and local communities with psychosocial support services, hygiene activities and efforts to reduce stigma.

Nigeria: Oil

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department has allocated to the Ogoniland region of Nigeria for the clearing up of pollution resulting from oil extraction; and if she will make a statement.

James Duddridge: The UK Government provided technical support to Nigerian institutions through DFID’s Foster programme from 2016 to 2018 and through the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund. UK support included project management, community participation in clean-up operations, and to government bodies to fulfil their responsibilities as well as monitoring of the overall project. Support was also given for alternative businesses e.g. cassava processing. We have no plans to provide further support at this time due to prioritisation of Aid projects and because the UN Environment Programme and other donors remain engaged through monitoring and advice.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed reductions in Official Development Assistance expenditure on UK (a) humanitarian and (b) development assistance to Yemen.

James Cleverly: Yemen remains a key priority for the UK Government.I announced that the UK will commit £160 million of new aid for the current financial year (2020/21) at the 2020 Yemen Humanitarian Pledging Conference on 2 June. This was the third highest pledge at the conference and brings the total UK commitment to nearly £1 billion since the conflict began in 2015.This funding will be provided through humanitarian and development agencies and will provide support to at least 300,000 vulnerable people each month to help them buy food and household essentials, treat 40,000 children for malnutrition and provide 1 million people with improved water supply and basic sanitation.

Overseas Aid: Standards

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the cumulative financial value was of the projects and programmes which have received red ratings by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact in each of the last five years.

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the cumulative financial value was of the projects and programmes which have received amber ratings by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact in each of the last five years.

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the cumulative financial value was of the projects and programmes which received amber/red ratings by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact in each of the last five years.

Wendy Morton: ICAI’s reviews cover thematic policy areas rather than individual projects and programmes. It is not possible to extract the cumulative financial value of projects and programmes covered by all reviews based on the methodology used.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be structured to effectively deliver on the UK's commitment under the UN Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The UK remains committed to the Sustainable Development Goals – and to the underpinning pledge to Leave No One Behind as we strive to achieve them. The SDGs will play an important role in post-COVID-19 recovery, recognising the connection between healthy lives, healthy societies and a healthy environment. As the Prime Minister affirmed on 28 May, we owe it to future generations to build back better, basing our recovery on a fairer, greener and more resilient global economy, and to get our shared goals on track, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

Department for International Development: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will consult the trade unions of the her Department's staff members at each stage of the merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: We have commenced discussions with our trade unions (PCS and FDA) and they will be consulted as we design and develop the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Department for International Development: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will takes steps to ensure that no employees of her Department will be made redundant during the merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: There will be no compulsory redundancies for DFID employees as a result of the decision to create a new Department. Some roles may change due to business needs and any changes will be handled in compliance with relevant civil service policy and guidance or local labour law for staff appointed in county overseas.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking following UNICEF's call for urgent humanitarian support in Yemen.

James Cleverly: The UK is extremely concerned by the devastating humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the rapid spread of COVID-19.As part our new £160 million commitment to Yemen this financial year (2020/21), we are continuing to support UNICEF to provide essential health services, treat malnutrition and provide clean water and sanitation. By the end of July 2020, we expect to have disbursed over £20 million of funding for UNICEF, including £10 million for their COVID-19 response.We are also encouraging other donors to urgently provide funding to the UN humanitarian response ahead of Yemen’s expected COVID-19 peak in late July.

Department for Education

Students: Coronavirus

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to support students that find themselves in financial difficulty during the covid-19 outbreak.

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department provides to students that do not have access to (a) a laptop and (b) an internet connection; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the digital support packed offered to lower year students to university students.

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to students that have found themselves in financial difficulty during the covid-19 outbreak.

Michelle Donelan: As my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, have both made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.Higher education providers take their responsibilities seriously and are best placed to identify the needs of their student body as well as how to develop the services needed to support it. When making changes to the delivery of their courses, providers need to consider how they support all students, particularly the most vulnerable, to achieve successful academic and professional outcomes.Many providers will have hardship funds to support students in times of need, including emergencies. The expectation is that where any student requires additional support during this exceptional period (for example, they have no access to the internet, no computer at home or cannot afford to purchase a computer), providers will support them through their own hardship funds.We have worked closely with the higher education regulator in England, the Office for Students (OfS), to help clarify that providers can draw upon existing funding to provide hardship funds and support disadvantaged students impacted by COVID-19. Providers can use the funding, worth around £23 million per month for April, May, June and July, towards student hardship funds, including the purchase of IT equipment.The OfS has provided guidance for providers on the use of existing student premium funding to support students facing hardship: www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/coronavirus/provider-guide-to-coronavirus/provider-faq/.Details of the technology support available for children and schools are here: www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19. These measures are the result of a £100 million allocation to support remote education, including providing routers and laptops to vulnerable students, prioritising care leavers, including those at university.

Universities: Foreign Students

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the number of international students who will study at UK universities in the 2020-21 academic year.

Michelle Donelan: In the 2018/19 academic year, tuition fees from international students at UK higher education providers accounted for around £7 billion of sector income. The government recognises that the COVID-19 outbreak will have an unparalleled impact on all elements of the global and UK economies. The higher education sector, including student recruitment, is no exception. We have been working closely with the sector to monitor the likely impacts of COVID-19 on international student numbers, including restrictions on travel. We understand that the COVID-19 outbreak and a possible reduction in the number of international students poses significant challenges and we stand ready to help the sector with various mitigations.On Monday 4 May, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced the package of measures to stabilise university admissions this autumn and ensure sustainability in higher education at a time of unprecedented uncertainty. Full details of the package have been published on GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/news/government-support-package-for-universities-and-students.The government is also working to ensure that existing rules and regulations, including visa regulations, are as flexible as possible for international students under these unprecedented circumstances. For example, on 16 June, the government confirmed that distance/blended learning will be permitted for the 2020/21 academic year provided students intend to transition to face-to-face learning as soon as circumstances allow. In addition, higher education providers will be flexible in accommodating applicants’ circumstances where possible, including if applicants are unable to travel to the UK in time for the start of the academic year.The new graduate route, due to be launched in summer 2021, provides an opportunity for international students who have been awarded their degree to stay and work in the UK at any skill level for 2 years. The government has also confirmed that those studying by distance/blended learning will be eligible to apply for the graduate route provided they are in the UK by 6 April 2021.On Friday 5 June, the Department for Education announced Sir Steve Smith as the International Education Champion, a key deliverable of the 2019 International Education Strategy. Sir Steve Smith will assist with opening up export growth opportunities for the whole UK education sector, tackling international challenges such as those posed to attracting international students and forging lasting global connections. The International Education Strategy, published in March 2019 by the Department for Education and the Department for International Trade, set out a commitment to review progress following its publication.  The review, which we intend to publish this autumn, will ensure that the International Education Strategy responds to this new context and the challenges that are posed by COVID-19.

Universities: Students

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic students who will study at UK universities in the 2020-21 academic year.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prospective students who will defer their studies at UK universities in the 2020-21 academic year as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with university officials on allowing prospective students to defer their studies due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Michelle Donelan: Our most recent estimate of the number of English-domiciled full-time undergraduate entrants studying at UK universities in the 2020/21 academic year is 377,000. This estimate is from March 2020 (and pre-dates the COVID-19 outbreak). The department is working closely with the sector to understand the likely impacts of COVID-19 on the higher education (HE) sector, including student numbers, and has introduced a HE stabilisation package to support the stability of the HE sector and protect the interests of students.There is no need for students to defer their studies this year if they do not wish to do so. Any student who wants to defer their studies should do so through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) system, but we would want to be sure that where they do so, they make their decision based on the best possible advice and information. The level of activity most recently reported by UCAS and the Student Loans Company (SLC) indicates that there are no signs of the level of deferrals being significantly different to that seen in previous years.We have had regular discussions with sector representative bodies, such as Universities UK (UUK), since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. We know that UUK is working with their members and UCAS to provide as much clarity as possible to applicants about likely arrangements for the delivery of HE university courses this autumn.

Universities: Coronavirus

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussion he has had with university officials on preventing staff redundancies.

Michelle Donelan: Higher education providers (HEPs) are independent institutions and are responsible for their own decisions on staffing and employment contracts.The department provided sector-specific guidance on 17 April to help providers understand and access the range of government support on offer to support financial viability and sustainability and safeguard jobs. In developing this guidance, the department worked across government to ensure the various funding streams that support university research were included and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was available in higher education (HE). Officials also consulted trade unions as well as Universities UK (UUK) and the Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) to understand staff and employer concerns and ensure the guidance addressed these where possible.The department remains in close communication with partners in the HE sector who are considering educational provision for the academic year 2020/2021. To help HEPs make informed decisions about their provision, the government has issued guidance on reopening campuses and buildings while minimising the risk to students and staff, which is complemented by principles published by UUK that will underpin HEPs’ reopening plans.

Department for Education: Public Opinion

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department spent on (a) opinion polling and (b) focus groups in each month since January 2019.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not hold this informational centrally and could only obtain it at disproportionate cost.

Adult Education: Coronavirus

Sally-Ann Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to ensure that adults who need training and skills development are supported as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Gillian Keegan: It will be important that adults who are returning to learning get the skills and development they need. We have already invested £100 million to develop a National Retraining Scheme to support working adults prepare for future changes to the economy and to help them retrain into better jobs and announced an extra £2.5 billion, over the course of this Parliament, for a new National Skills Fund, which will support people to learn new skills and prepare for the economy of the future. In April we launched the “Skills Toolkit” – a new online platform giving people access to free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses to help build up their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects. Apprenticeships will be key to the recovery, helping both young people and those wanting to re-train, and we are looking at ensuring that we support employers, especially small businesses, to take on new apprentices this year and will provide further detail in due course.The department is also exploring further options for how to boost skills to help the labour market recover from the economic effects of COVID-19. There are a range of further and higher education opportunities open to young people leaving education this summer. In addition, we want to work with employers to ensure that young people have access to an offer of work-based training, work experience, and/or training programmes. My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minster, announced this on 29 June.

Apprentices

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the merits of providing apprenticeships programmes that are more affordable to the NHS and the opportunities this might offer local economies.

Gillian Keegan: Nursing apprenticeships offer a high-quality work-based route, in addition to the established higher education route, into the profession. There is now a complete apprentice pathway from entry-level through to postgraduate-level. We are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Health Education England to try to maximise the potential of this route to deliver trained nurses and nursing associates to the NHS.Apprenticeships are able to help meet the long-term skills needs of a changing NHS and to widen access to the professions. There are currently 65 standards available for delivery from levels 2 to 7 in the health and science route. There are over 550 standards available overall, many of which can be used in the healthcare sector.We are committed to minimising disruption to nurses’ training while supporting the NHS to deal with the challenges of COVID-19. Nursing apprentices who have completed their programme and passed through the apprenticeship gateway will be regarded to have met the end-point assessment requirements and achieved their apprenticeship.We work closely with Health Education England, who have established a dedicated team of relationship managers to provide bespoke support to trusts. We continue to engage regularly with NHS stakeholders, including Health Education England and NHS Employers, to make sure that the NHS is fully supported to recruit the apprentices that it needs to deliver high-quality care in all areas, including emergency services, nursing, and care. I was pleased to speak recently to apprentices at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, who shared with me their inspiring stories of how apprenticeships have allowed the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to do its vital work in supporting the NHS.

Free School Meals: Coronavirus

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the number of children (a) eligible for and (b) receiving free school meals in England.

Vicky Ford: The latest school census data published on 25 June 2020 in ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ shows that the number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is over 1.4 million, as of January 2020. The data is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.We do not hold information on the number of children that have become eligible for benefits-related free school meals due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Education: Children

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children classified as vulnerable attended (a) primary (b) secondary school in (i) May  and (ii) June 2020.

Vicky Ford: The table below presents the latest weekly national figures for vulnerable children with an education, health and care (EHC) plan or social worker in attendance in England during May and June 2020.DateVulnerable children with an EHC plan or social work in attendanceProportion of vulnerable children with an EHC plan or social worker[1]7 May 202048,0009%14 May 202051,00010%21 May 202052,00010%28 May 202023,0005%4 June 202078,00015%11 June 202092,00018%18 June 2020112,00022%25 June 2020116,00023%The data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.Please note that the department has not produced separate figures for the primary and secondary phases.We have also been monitoring contact between social workers and children in need and can confirm that the vast majority of those vulnerable children on a child protection plan have been seen or contacted by a social worker in the past four weeks.Full guidance on the definition of vulnerable children and options for continued attendance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people. [1] We estimate that the total number of vulnerable children with an EHC plan or social worker in England is 508,255.

Universities: Scotland

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the decision to cap the number of English students attending university in Scotland.

Michelle Donelan: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and I have regular meetings with Scottish ministers, and with ministers from all the devolved administrations, about higher education issues. These discussions have included the development of student number controls policy. Departmental officials also have regular meetings and discussions with their counterparts.Student number controls are a direct response to the COVID-19 outbreak. They are designed to minimise the impact to the financial threat posed by the outbreak and they form a key part of the package of measures to stabilise the admissions system. We want to make sure that university places are available to all who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so.These controls are a temporary measure and will be in place for one academic year only. Student number controls for institutions in the devolved administrations only apply to the number of English-domiciled entrants who will be supported with their tuition fees through the Student Loans Company. They are set at a level which will allow every institution to take more first year English students than they took last year. The funding of English-domiciled students is not a devolved matter, and it is right and fair that this policy should apply as consistently as possible wherever they are studying in the UK.Ministers will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on strengthening and stabilising the higher education system following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Holiday Play Schemes: Coronavirus

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether holiday clubs in schools will be permitted to open over the summer in 2020.

Nick Gibb: As per my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June, holiday clubs and out-of-school clubs for children will be able to restart over the summer, with safety measures in place. Adjustments to current measures for these clubs will be part of Step 3 of the recovery strategy (from 4 July). We have published guidance for the sector on how to implement the protective measures necessary to open:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.Holiday clubs that open should implement this guidance from the end of summer term, when state schools in their local area have closed. Until then, while schools are open in a provider’s local area, they should follow the same protective measures as schools to limit different groups of children mixing.We are not asking schools to open over the summer holidays; however, we are aware that some headteachers may be considering using their catch-up premium to provide summer school activities for their pupils. Schools may also consider hiring out their premises to holiday clubs. Where this is the case, they have the flexibility, discretion, and autonomy to decide how they want to do this.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether children who become eligible for free school meals during the summer holidays will be eligible for support form the COVID Summer Food Fund.

Vicky Ford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 June 2020 to Question 60716.

Schools: Food

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what dates Edenred’s contracts to deliver (a) the national free school meal voucher scheme and (b) the COVID Summer Food Fund will come to an end.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to (a) make schools aware of the deadline for applying for the COVID Summer Food Fund and (b) encourage schools to apply for that funding.

Vicky Ford: Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term time only. However, owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this, we will be providing additional funding for a COVID Summer Food Fund which will enable families with children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to receive food vouchers covering the 6-week holiday period. Our guidance on the COVID Summer Food Fund is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-summer-food-fund.The department’s contract with Edenred for supplying both the national free school meals voucher scheme and the COVID Summer Food Fund will expire on 31 August 2020.We have announced details of the COVID Summer Food Fund in our daily bulletin to schools and on social media. A link to information on the COVID Summer Food Fund has been added to our guidance on providing free school meals during the COVID-19 outbreak here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.Edenred have also emailed all eligible schools with information about the fund and the deadlines for placing orders. We have discussed these arrangements with teaching unions and wider stakeholders. When the national voucher scheme was set up, Edenred sent emails to all eligible schools, containing a link with which to activate their accounts. All eligible schools that had not yet activated their account were sent a new link in the week commencing 22 June 2020.

Academic Year: Coronavirus

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will provide a (a) framework and (b) tailored support to enable schools to open as places for pupil engagement and activity in the 2020 summer holidays.

Nick Gibb: We are not asking schools to open over the summer holidays. Teachers, support staff and head teachers deserve a break, to recharge and rest.We are aware that some headteachers may be considering using their catch-up premium to provide summer school activities for their pupils. Where this is the case, they have the flexibility, discretion and autonomy to decide how they want to do this. To support schools in planning how to use the catch-up premium, the Education Endowment Foundation has produced a guide which includes advice on summer schools and contains a link to a Teach First toolkit specifically focused on summer schools, for schools that choose to do this.Holiday clubs and out-of-school clubs for children will also be able to restart over the summer, with safety measures in place. These clubs will be part of Step 3 of the recovery strategy (from 4 July). We have published guidance for the sector on how to implement the protective measures necessary to open safely:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

Home Education and Teaching Aids: Ealing

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding has been allocated to schools in the London Borough of Ealing in relation to (a) online tuition and (b) teaching materials.

Nick Gibb: Ealing is receiving an extra £10.1 million for schools this year, an increase of 3.7% per pupil taking total funding for 2020-21 in Ealing to £250.8 million.It is up to each school to determine how to deliver education to its pupils, and how best to use their funding. We recognise that many schools have already shared resources – both online and printed resources – for children who are at home, and we are committed to ensuring that all children can continue to learn remotely in a number of ways during these very difficult circumstances.We are committed to ensuring that all children can continue to learn remotely in a number of ways for as long as they are unable to attend school, and are supporting sector-led initiatives such as the Oak National Academy. By 21 June, 3.9 million unique users had accessed the Oak National Academy website and 13.2 million lessons had been viewed.The Government has also committed over £100 million to boost remote education. This includes: providing devices and internet access for those who need it most, ensuring every school that wants it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education, and offering peer support from schools and colleges leading the way with the use of education technology.The Government have announced a package of support of £1 billion to ensure that schools have the support they need to help children and young people make up for lost teaching time, with extra support in the form of a tutoring programme for those who need it most. We will provide more information on exactly how this funding will be distributed in due course.

Schools: Social Distancing

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the additional number of pupils that can attend school in the event that social distancing guidelines are lower to one metre.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to split primary and secondary classes into multiple bubbles to minimise the risk of covid-19 transmission.

Nick Gibb: We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn. We know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their teachers and friends. Our intention is for all children to return to school from September.We have published further information and guidance to help schools prepare for September. The guidance is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.We will be guided by the latest scientific advice and are working with the sector to ensure our guidance provides schools with the further details they need. Any protective measures that may be necessary to keep children and teachers as safe as possible, advice on group sizes, staffing advice and transport considerations can be found in the guidance.

Education: Standards

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take to reduce the gap in provision between state and private schools after the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: We are committed to ensuring that all pupils continue to learn remotely where they cannot attend school due to COVID-19. The Department has published guidance to support state-funded schools in providing online lessons, and using high quality digital and printed curriculum resources.  To support state schools to provide education online, the Government has committed over £100 million to boost access to remote education. This includes providing laptops and tablets and internet access for those who need it most, ensuring every school that wants it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education, and offering peer support from schools and colleges leading the way with the use of education technology. The Department is also supporting sector-led initiatives such as Oak National Academy. This new enterprise has been created by 40 teachers from schools across England. It will provide 180 video lessons for free each week, across a broad range of subjects, for every year group from Reception through to year 10. By 21 June, 3.9 million unique users had accessed the Oak National Academy website and 13.2 million lessons had been viewed. Additionally, the BBC has developed resources for families as part of a comprehensive new education package, which is now available on TV, BBC iPlayer and online at BBC Bitesize.  We expect all pupils to return to school in September, and the Department published guidance on Thursday 2 July. Given the possibility that groups of pupils need to self-isolate, such as for a local lockdown, all schools will be expected to have remote education contingency plans in place. The guidance sets out what is expected from schools for their remote education provision. We are also providing a package of support worth £1 billion to support catch up for all pupils in state schools next academic year, including extra support for the most disadvantaged.

Schools: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children at state primary schools are being taught at school (a) in the UK and (b) in York since the reopening of schools after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of Year 6 children at state primary schools are being taught at school (a) in the UK and (b) in York since the reopening of schools after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of nursery children have returned to school (a) in the UK and (b) in York since the reopening of schools after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in reception have returned to school (a) in the UK and (b) in York since the reopening of schools after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of Year 1 children have returned to school (a) in the UK and (b) in York since the reopening of schools after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children at secondary schools returned to school (a) in the UK and (b) in York since the reopening of schools after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of Year 10 children returned to school (a) in the UK and (b) in York since the reopening of schools after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of Year 12 children at returned to school (a) in the UK and (b) in York since the reopening of schools after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Nick Gibb: The tables below present the daily national figures for nursery, reception, year 1, year 6, year 10 and year 12 pupils in attendance in England during June 2020.DateChildren attending NurseryChildren attending receptionChildren attending year 1Children attending year 6Children attending year 10[1]Pupils attending year 12[2]04/06/202028,00099,00084,000127,000..11/06/202040,000144,000130,000179,000..18/06/202052,000188,000175,000228,00065,00025,00025/06/202066,000238,000226,000279,00083,00034,000 DateProportion of all nursery children attendingProportion of all reception children attendingProportion of all year 1 children attendingProportion of all year 6 children attendingProportion of all year 10 children attending1Proportion of all year 12 pupils attending204/06/20208.9%15.2%12.7%18.6%..11/06/202012.9%21.9%19.6%26.2%..18/06/202016.5%28.8%26.3%33.5%10.3%9.5%25/06/202021.1%36.3%34.1%41.0%13.0%12.6%The data is collected from individual education establishments and the published figures include estimates for non-response. Equivalent estimates have not been made at lower level geographies. In addition, the Department has not produced separate overall attendance figures for the primary and secondary phases. [1] Secondary schools, sixth form and further education colleges were asked to begin providing face-to-face support to students in year 10 and 12 from June 15th. For dates prior to this, no information was collected for these years.[2] Figures for year 12 attendance do not include students at further education and special post-16 institutions.

Schools: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional educational provision he providing to children who may not be able to return to school in September as a result of limits on capacity at schools.

Nick Gibb: We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their teachers and friends. Our intention is for all children to return to school from September.We have published further information and guidance to help schools prepare for September. The guidance is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.We are working with the sector to ensure our guidance provides schools with the further details they need including advice on estates, workforce and curriculum, which can be found in the guidance.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2020 to Question 54062, on Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus, how many and what proportion of prison-leavers released without an address to go to were from BAME backgrounds.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June to Question 54062 on Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus, how many people within each of the categories in the table provided were released into (a) each of the regions of England and (b) Wales.

Lucy Frazer: We are working closely across Government to ensure that all individuals released at risk of homelessness receive necessary support to help them secure somewhere to live.As a result of the pandemic, we have secured up to £8.5 million to support individuals at risk of homelessness on their release from prison for up to eight weeks and help to move on into permanent accommodation. This scheme was originally due to run until 26 June; however, we have recently undertaken our first review and, following this, have extended the scheme until 31 July.Of the 7,814 offenders released between 23 March-30 April 2020, 5,892 (75%) were from white backgrounds, 1,521 (19%) were from BAME backgrounds and the ethnic background of 401 offenders (5%) is unknown.Of the 7,814 offenders released, 1,014 were described as homeless (total of rough sleeping and ‘other homeless’ combined). Of these 1,014 offenders, 174 (17%) were from BAME backgrounds, 804 (79%) were from white backgrounds and the ethnic background of 36 (4%) homeless offenders is unknown.Please note, ‘other homeless’ refers to individuals who identify as homeless but have not been identified as sleeping rough. In some cases, it is not recorded whether an individual that is identified as homeless is rough sleeping.The table below provides the number of offenders released from custody by accommodation circumstance on the first night. The data covers the period 23 March- 30 April 2020 and is broken down by region. Offenders Released from custodyRough sleepingOther Homeless***Unknown accommodation circumstance Young Adults*12891768188London27641142Midlands216#928North East230#740North West179#1618South East and Eastern16451515South West and South Central1355616Wales89#429 Other Males**5933198642933London91652125168Midlands103719100173North East108022111179North West98423104103South East and Eastern7635088106South West and South Central716267680Wales437638124 Other Females**592266388London8151420Midlands13941322North East11941313North West86#1510South East and Eastern625410South West and South Central684#7Wales37##6 # Denotes values less than 4, or secondary suppression (suppressed to avoid disclosure). Regions correspond to National Probation Service division boundaries at the end of March but also include Community Rehabilitation Company managed offenders.*Young adults are offenders between 18 and 24** Other male and females are offenders 25 and over*** “Other homeless” refers to individuals who identify as homeless but have not been identified as sleeping rough. In some cases, it is not recorded whether an individual that is identified as homeless is rough sleeping Please note, offenders not managed by either the National Probation Service or a Community Rehabilitation Company (including those offenders subject to electronic monitoring) are not included in the dataset. Release on temporary licence (RoTL), End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR), releases where the offender is subject to same-day recall to custody, and release from unsupervised short sentences are also not included.

Trials: Coronavirus

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans the Government has to tackle the backlog of trials as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: COVID-19 has been an unprecedented challenge for the criminal justice system, but we have kept courts open and cases flowing through the system throughout. The UK has been a global leader and we are ahead of comparable systems.The most time-critical hearings have continued to take place in the Magistrates’ Courts, including hearings where the defendant is in custody or there is a risk to the public, as well as dealing with applications to extend custody time limits. In Crown Courts, jury trials were restarted on the 18 May and I am pleased to say that we will have reopened all courts by mid-July.HMCTS has now published a Court Recovery Plan, which sets out that court operating hours will be extended, alternative venues will be used as courts to increase capacity and the use of the Cloud Video Platform (CVP) will be rolled out into all Magistrates’ and Crown Courts. Further measures to increase jury trial capacity are also being explored. The Court Recovery Plan can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-and-tribunal-recovery-update-in-response-to-coronavirus

Magistrates' Courts

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the rate of escalation of cases awaiting trial in magistrates courts; what the size of the backlog has been in each of the last three months; what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of witnesses' testimonies being held to be reliable, if up to five years elapse between alleged offence and the accused facing trial; what the effect of such delay is likely to have on public confidence in the Justice system; and if he will take steps, on a temporary basis if necessary, to reduce that backlog.

Chris Philp: The work to reduce the backlog is moving at pace so we can continue to increase the number of trials. More than 150 courts remained fully open to the public throughout the pandemic and by the middle of July all court centres will have reopened. We have prioritised the most urgent cases, such as domestic abuse and COVID-19 related cases, to keep the public safe, and the interests of victims and witnesses are continually considered as a part of the reopening of courts.Data showing the number of outstanding cases in the Magistrates Court is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/hmcts-weekly-management-information-during-coronavirus-march-to-may-2020A courts recovery plan has been published which will sets out the urgent next steps that we are taking to increase capacity in the courts: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-and-tribunal-recovery-update-in-response-to-coronavirus

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Local Government: Constituencies

Elliot Colburn: To ask the hon. Member for City of Chester, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Commission plans to lay before Parliament the draft Order to give affect to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England's recommended boundary changes for the London Borough of Sutton.

Christian Matheson: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England published its final recommendations for future electoral arrangements in the London Borough of Sutton on 30 June. It expects to lay a draft order in September 2020 to bring the recommendations into effect. The draft order is subject to the 40-sitting days negative resolution procedure.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Housing: Construction

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to relax housing delivery targets for local authorities in 2020-21 in response to the covid19 outbreak, and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Pincher: We note the concerns you raise regarding Housing Delivery Test under current circumstances. It is important to keep the planning system moving as much as we can, so that it is able to play its full part in the economic recovery to come, but we will continue to monitor the situation.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Coronavirus

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government,  whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report of the all-party group on air pollution entitled, Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection, published on 29 May 2020.

Christopher Pincher: The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government welcomes the all-party group’s report and has noted its recommendations with interest. Improving air quality is a top priority for the Government and, especially during these unprecedented times, we will continue to take robust and comprehensive action to improve air quality in the United Kingdom and minimise public health effects. Defra recently launched a rapid Call for Evidence to understand more fully the effect that coronavirus is having on air pollution emissions, concentrations and exposure, and Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) are currently analysing the responses.

Help to Buy Scheme: Coronavirus

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to extend the Help to Buy scheme to mitigate for delays in construction because of the covid-19 outbreak.

Christopher Pincher: The Government recognises the disruption Covid-19 has caused to housebuilding; that is why we took decisive steps to re-open the housing market and ensure housebuilding could safely recommence. The Government published a “Plan to Rebuild” on Monday 11 May, setting out the United Kingdom Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy. This makes clear that construction work can be undertaken across England providing sites are able to operate safely in line with the new Covid-19 secure guidelines. We continue to monitor the situation.As announced at Budget 2018, there is a new two year Help to Buy scheme commencing from 1 April 2021, specifically for first time buyers, so supporting people onto the housing ladder. Where new build properties are not completed within the current Help to Buy scheme deadlines, they may be eligible for sale through the new scheme. More information on the new Help to Buy scheme can be found at https://www.helptobuy.gov.uk/equity-loan/eligibility/.

Mortgages

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to hold a roundtable meeting with mortgage lenders to discuss mortgage valuations on properties under 18m; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Pincher: The Minister for Fire and Building Safety held a roundtable with mortgage lenders on Thursday 25 June, where they were pressed to consider a more proportionate approach to mortgage valuations on properties under 18 metres. The lenders present confirmed that they had, or were, reviewing their policies and guidance to valuers.

5G

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to bring forward legislation to reform permitted development rights to support the (a) deployment of 5G and (b) expansion of mobile coverage.

Christopher Pincher: In August 2019, a joint consultation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was launched to consider amending permitted development rights to support increased mobile coverage and 5G deployment.The consultation closed on 04 November 2019. The Government is considering the replies and will issue a response in due course. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, if the proposals are taken forward, we anticipate undertaking a further consultation on the detail of those proposals.

Property Development

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of exempting developments granted planning permission through development orders on the effectiveness of the Government’s policy that new developments should enhance biodiversity and create new green spaces.

Christopher Pincher: The Government’s response to biodiversity gain consultation published in https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/biodiversity-net-gain-updating-planning-requirements made it clear that the new biodiversity gain regime – currently being legislated for in the Environment Bill - would not apply to permitted development rights which are granted under the General Permitted Development Order. The provisions do apply to development permitted by local development orders and neighbourhood development orders.

5G

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on the proposed reforms to permitted development rights to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage.

Christopher Pincher: In August 2019, a joint consultation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was launched to consider amending permitted development rights to support increased mobile coverage and 5G deployment.The consultation closed on 04 November 2019. The Government is considering the replies and will issue a response in due course. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, if the proposals are taken forward, we anticipate undertaking a further consultation on the detail of those proposals.

Planning: Reform

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the compatibility of proposed planning reforms with measures contained in the Environment Bill.

Christopher Pincher: The planning system has a vital role to play in enabling the delivery of housing and to support sustainable economic growth and renewal, and we want to see better planning for nature, in a way that’s more efficient as well as effective. In March, the government signalled its intention to modernise our planning system, ensuring it supports the delivery of homes that local people need and creates more beautiful and greener communities.   Since then, we have developed a number of planning regulation easements to support businesses to operate through Covid-19, such as enabling restaurants, cafes and pubs to offer a takeaway and delivery service and removing specific publicity requirements for planning applications. We have recently introduced a Bill to parliament with further measures to help businesses to resume and to support economic recovery, and will continue to work across government to investigate options for broader regulatory reform to support sustainable economic growth and renewal, and to protect and conserve our environment.

Planning Permission

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the 2012 Guidance on Planning Propriety Issues is the current guidance for Ministers on how to interact with planning applications.

Christopher Pincher: Yes, the 2012 Guidance on Planning Propriety Issues is the current guidance for Ministers on how to interact with planning applications. The Secretary of State has asked his Department to review the extant Planning Propriety Guidance to see how there can be clearer, practical guidance to Ministers and civil servants.

Ministry of Defence

Ammunition and Radioactive Waste: Beaufort Dyke

Allan Dorans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent environmental assessment the Government has made of the level of deterioration of munitions and nuclear waste dumped in the sea between Scotland and Northern Ireland at the site known as Beaufort's Dyke.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence has not undertaken any routine monitoring of items disposed in Beaufort's Dyke. Historic information on the sea disposals at Beaufort's Dyke and other locations is available through The National Archives at: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121203135425/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/HealthandSafetyPublications/DSEA/DisposalOfMunitionsAtSea.htm

Voyager Aircraft

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2020 to Question 61411 on Voyager Aircraft; what effect the new livery will have on the number of refuelling missions the aircraft will be able to undertake.

Jeremy Quin: The new livery will have no effect on the number of refuelling missions the Voyager aircraft can take. Air-to-Air refuelling (AAR) remains the primary role of the aircraft when it is not being used for VIP travel. The aircraft has demonstrated this already and has undertaken routine AAR missions since returning from repaint.

Body Armour: Females

Mr Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to procure anatomically specific body armour for female service personnel.

Jeremy Quin: Our VIRTUS body armour has eight different sizes of Scalable Tactical Vest and three for the frame. It can therefore be configured in a multitude of ways dependent on the size and shape of the wearer. Studies are continuing which explore further options for body armour that comes in different sizes and shapes in order to optimise the fit and reduce physical burden on all users.

Aircraft Carriers: Amphibious Vehicles

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the future amphibious assault capability of UK Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP).

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence is considering the future amphibious capability, expressed in the Littoral Strike concept, and its relationship with Carrier Strike as part of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

Afghanistan: Russia

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with representatives of the armed forces on reports  that the Russian Government allegedly offered to pay bounties to Taliban-linked fighters to kill US and UK troops in Afghanistan.

James Heappey: It would not be appropriate to comment on sensitive intelligence matters, but the safety of our Service personnel is of paramount importance to the Ministry of Defence. We take all necessary measures to ensure that our Armed Forces are properly trained, equipped and prepared to face any eventuality. We regularly review our force protection posture and take all necessary steps to mitigate the risks. That is no different in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence continues to collaborate with allies and partners, including in the intelligence domain, to fully and robustly respond to the challenges Russia presents. In responding to this malign activity, the UK is a world leader. We led the global effort to expel more than a hundred diplomats from around the world after the Salisbury attack in 2018 and we were the first international partner to deploy a military training team to Ukraine following the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Defence: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the risks of cost increases on his Department's spending as a result of exchange rate fluctuations.

Jeremy Quin: We mitigate the impact of foreign exchange using forward purchase contracts agreed with the Bank of England. This mechanism provides increased budget stability in the forward programme and is not intended to generate gains or savings from the foreign exchange market.

Army: Vehicles

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the future of (a) Mastiff and (b) other legacy Army vehicles.

Jeremy Quin: The Army continues to rationalise its legacy vehicle fleets, work commenced in 2017 under the Land Environment Fleet Optimisation Plan. This work has already removed 2,831 vehicles from service and disposed of a number of legacy vehicle fleets. The next strand of this work seeks to remove several further legacy vehicle types from service, including the disposal of the Mastiff, Ridgeback and Wolfhound fleets.

RAF Valley: Noise

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to reduce noise nuisance from Texan T1 aircraft operating from RAF Y Fali over north west Wales.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence recognises that while aircraft bases bring significant benefits to their local area, the noise generated by aircraft can have an impact on local communities. Unfortunately, a level of disturbance is unavoidable. RAF Valley takes its responsibilities to the public very seriously and seeks to minimise the impact of noise on local residents as far as possible. Restrictions are placed on the height, speeds and operating procedures of all military aircraft, including the Texan T1, and the amount of training conducted is limited to the operational requirement.

Syria: Military Intervention

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will undertake a public investigation into the air strike at Tal al-Jayer in Syria on 12 June 2018 to determine whether munitions from RAF planes were responsible for civilian casualties.

James Heappey: Abiding by International Humanitarian Law and the Law of Armed Conflict is of the utmost importance to this Government and is central to all of our military operations at home and overseas. UK aircraft conducted a single strike on 12 June 2018. Ministry of Defence officials have cross referenced the village name with coordinates of that strike and established that they differ by approximately four miles and that the UK did not strike any buildings. Therefore, from the evidence available, we have no reason to believe that the UK was responsible for any civilian casualties on 12 June 2018. As the Government has stated previously, we will always work closely with partners and civil society and investigate all credible claims that UK aircraft have been responsible for civilian casualties.

Department for Work and Pensions

Industrial Health and Safety: Coronavirus

Alyn Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many reports relating to covid-19 the Heath and Safety Executive has received in each of the last three months.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



RIDDOR places duties on employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises (the Responsible Person) to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and specified dangerous occurrences (near misses). Reports relate to incidents occurring within Great Britain.Under RIDDOR, duty-holders are obliged to report cases of Covid-19 when:an unintended incident at work has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to Covid-19 (reportable as a ‘biological agent’ dangerous occurrence under Regulation 7, Schedule 2 – Section 10);a worker has been diagnosed as having Covid-19 and there is reasonable evidence that it was caused by exposure at work (reportable as an ‘exposure to a biological agent’ case of disease under Regulation 9(b));a worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to Covid-19 and this is confirmed as the likely cause of death by a registered medical practitioner (reportable as a ‘death due to exposure to a biological agent’ case of disease under Regulation 6(2)). The attached Tables 1 and 2 provide numbers of all Covid-19 related reports i.e. reports of incidents under the RIDDORs (Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) which fall to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Local Authorities (LA) as enforcing authorities. Table 3 shows the number of Covid-19 workplace concerns reported to HSE.



HSE Tables
(Word Document, 15.44 KB)

Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus

Jane Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional support has been made available for claimants of (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment support allowance during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 08 June 2020



In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Chancellor announced an unprecedented series of measures to support businesses and their employees to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. This includes over £6.5 billion of extra support through the welfare system. We introduced a range of additional measures to support legacy claimants deal with the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. From the 30th March 2020 we provided for claimants who have an award of old-style Jobseeker’s Allowance to be treated as available for work and actively seeking employment for a period of three months, for the purposes of their entitlement to the benefit. We also removed the waiting days for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for claimants affected by Covid-19, so it will be payable from day one of the claim, subject to the claimant satisfying the normal conditions of entitlement. On Monday 20 April, we launched the New Style ESA online portal which allows applications to be completed online. We have been receiving claims successfully since then. For those claimants or appointees who still require a telephony service, this remains available. This also included increasing the Local Housing Allowance rates for private renters claiming Housing Benefit to the 30th percentile of local rents. As a result, claimants receiving Housing element or Housing Benefit claim will gain on average an additional £600 this year in increased housing support. We regularly update the guidance and up-to-date information about the employment and benefits support available, including Universal Credit, Statutory Sick Pay, New style Jobseeker's Allowance, and Employment and Support Allowance, can be found here:www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/.

Unemployment: Training

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional support and training her Department offers to unemployed people to help them to fill long-term vacancies in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency.

Mims Davies: DWP offers significant support to unemployed people across Great Britain, through our network of Jobcentres. Since the start of June, our work coaches have made over a quarter of a million outbound customer support calls, each week. They are providing support on finding a job, help with retraining or skills advice, CV, job applications and access to the new vacancies we record every day, as well as signposting to our new Jobhelp website. DWP are also using technology to host virtual jobfairs, working with employers to deliver online mentoring circles and facilitating sector based work academies. We also work with partners to help customers access key provision. In Scotland this includes close working with Scottish Government to ensure customers can access the employability programme Fair Start Scotland. And in Falkirk Jobcentre customers are now able to access Fair Start Scotland from the first day of their qualifying benefit claim as part of a pilot with Scottish Government.

Poverty: Children

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what most recent estimate she has made of the number of children in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Manchester Gorton constituency living in poverty; and what proportion of those children are BAME.

Will Quince: National Statistics on the number and percentage of children in low income households are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication. Latest statistics for the number of children who are in low income households for England and the North West region can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-199495-to-201819, “children-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2018-19-tables” in table 4.17ts (relative low income, before and after housing costs) and 4.23ts (absolute low income, before and after housing costs). The latest figures for children in low income households in Manchester Gorton, up to 2018/19, can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance for users is available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html The survey used by the Department to estimate numbers in low income households does not collect data on the ethnicity of children in households responding to the survey so it is not possible to provide estimates of children living in low income households by ethnicity.

Food Banks

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when a Minister from her Department last visited a food bank on an official visit.

Will Quince: Ministers engage closely with food bank providers and I meet regularly with the Trussell Trust. The Secretary of State and I held an independent foodbank provider roundtable meeting on 12 February. Ministers in the Department also visit food banks on a regular basis. The most recent official visit was made by Baroness Stedman Scott on 30 January. The Department has been respecting Governmental guidelines around non-essential travel but is maintaining close contact with its stakeholders until normal visits and roundtables can be resumed. This includes those in the food bank sector.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to use (a) a Future Jobs Fund or (b) a similar scheme to support young people unemployed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



DWP is engaging cross-government to understand supply & demand across the labour market throughout and beyond the COVID-19 crisis. We are in discussions with other Government Departments and a range of stakeholders to explore all options. This is to ensure the right support is in place for individuals who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 that will meet the needs of both the individuals, as well as local priorities. This engagement includes the Youth Employment Group, which includes Prince’s Trust, Youth Employment UK, Institute for Employment Studies, Youth Futures Foundation and Impetus.

Health and Safety Executive: Finance

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding has been allocated to the  Health & Safety Executive for (a) delivering Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals after the transition period and (b) establishing a new building safety regulator following the  Grenfell Tower disaster; and whether these funding allocations are in addition to the £14 million announced by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 12 May 2020 for making workplaces safe during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: The total funding allocated to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for (a) delivering Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals after the transition period for 2020/21 is £3.46m. This funding is provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Allocations for future years will be decided as part of the Spending Review process for 2020. HSE has not yet been allocated any funding in respect of (b) the new Building Safety Regulator. Costs to the organisation are currently being met by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). HSE and MHCLG are currently discussing future funding arrangements for this work. The additional HSE funding of up to £14m is additional funding and is ring-fenced for dealing with additional work arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Universal Credit

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of universal credit who were previously in receipt of legacy benefits have successfully reapplied for universal credit in the last (a) six months, (b) 12 months and (c) 24 months.

Will Quince: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the underpayments of state pension to women who have not received their full state pension will be passed on to the (a) surviving spouse and (b) beneficiaries of a will where a female pensioner is deceased.

Guy Opperman: Holding answer received on 01 July 2020



Where arrears of Cat BL pension are payable, they will be distributed to those who have a legitimate claim to the monies. This could include the surviving spouse and the beneficiaries of a will.

Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illnesses

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish the findings from the review, announced in July 2019, on how the welfare system supports people who are terminally ill.

Justin Tomlinson: The evaluation remains a priority for the Department. The Department has made good progress and we expect to be able to provide an update on the outcome of the evaluation shortly.

Child Maintenance Service: Coronavirus

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service in enforcing payments for resident parents during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: Paying parents are still expected to pay child maintenance throughout this period. We know the vast majority of parents take their responsibilities extremely seriously and will do whatever is needed to ensure their children are supported. Where payments have been missed we have asked parents to report the changes via the self-service portal. In order to ensure that receiving parents do not lose out in the long run, we will update cases with notified changes as soon as possible. Where payments have been missed the Service will take action to re-establish compliance and collect any unpaid amounts that may have accrued. No one will get away with giving false information. Those found to be abusing the system can be subjected to the full extent of our enforcement powers and the Child Maintenance Service will pursue these, where appropriate.

Universal Credit: Wales

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claiming universal credit in Wales from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 were employed in the care sector.

Will Quince: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Access to Work Programme: Sign Language

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the current British Sign Language translation published in 2015 of the Access to Work factsheet for customers.

Justin Tomlinson: Access to Work have been working hard to ensure high standards of their British Sign Language (BSL) translations, including working with the British Deaf Association (BDA) to obtain feedback on their videos and BSL translations and to better understand what matters to BSL users. Access to Work works with one professional translator when developing BSL products. Recognising the need to ensure the translator has enough time to understand the key messages and interpret them in a way that can be easily understood by BSL users, additional time is built into the contract. The additional times enables Access to Work to work closely with the translator to go through the draft scripts and ensure information is accurately translated and that key messages are interpreted in a way that makes sense for BSL users whilst ensuring accuracy. Wherever possible, post-production testing is included as part of the assurance process, to ensure user comprehension. This has been more difficult during the COVID-19 outbreak, due to the pace of change and social distancing measures.  Please note that the Access to Work factsheet was not published in 2015 – it was first pub-lished on 1 October 2012 and has been amended 12 times in subsequent years.

Access to Work Programme: Sign Language

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to update its British Sign Language translation of the Access to Work factsheet for customers.

Justin Tomlinson: Access to Work (ATW) is a demand-led, discretionary grant scheme administered by Jobcentre Plus (JCP). The scheme de-risks the recruitment and retention of disabled people for employers by contributing towards covering the costs of support above the level of reasonable adjustment for disabled people at work. Since the Access to Work factsheet was published in October 2012, it has been amended 12 times in subsequent years. Access to Work recognises the importance of providing information in accessible formats and works with stakeholders to gain an understanding of the key issues. To ensure accessible information was made available during the coronavirus pandemic. British Sign Language (BSL) videos reflecting the new measures Access to Work introduced to support disabled people were developed. These videos can be accessed via the following link:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0aQWFFHARyXcQd-0mz0lOTZOfI15L8H To provide accessible information Access to Work continues to work with stakeholders including UK Council on Deafness (UKCOD) to ensure key communications are translated into British Sign Language. Access to Work engages regularly with stakeholders to prioritise communications, and will be publishing advice on Access to Work “Reconsiderations” in the near future, with more communications to follow.

Access to Work Programme: Sign Language

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department uses when deciding which Access to Work materials are translated into British Sign Language.

Justin Tomlinson: Access to Work (ATW) is a demand-led, discretionary grant scheme administered by Jobcentre Plus (JCP). The scheme de-risks the recruitment and retention of disabled people for employers by contributing towards covering the costs of support above the level of reasonable adjustment for disabled people at work. Access to Work guidance is available in English and Welsh in html, word and PDF formats on the gov.uk website, and in addition information on DWP services is produced in accessible formats, including BSL videos. When deciding which communications are translated into British Sign Language, Access to Work will consider the following: Direct feedback from Access to Work British Sign Language users,Stakeholder engagement with disability charities and organisations, including the UK Council on Deafness (UKCOD),Feedback from the Access to Work Stakeholder Forum, andDepartmental communication priorities. Using feedback from these groups and taking account of the wider Departmental communication priorities, Access to Work will identify communications that are causing the most concern and will be the most beneficial for British Sign Language users. Disabled people who are British Sign Language users who have queries about Access to Work can contact Access to Work via the BSL video relay service (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) to discuss queries.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to use the Government’s administrative data to identify married women who are not receiving the level of state pension to which they are entitled; how many of those women have been identified; what the average value is of those backdated state pension payments, and if she will make a statement.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

State Retirement Pensions

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department uses to determine the circumstances in which interest is added to back payments of a state pension.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

State Retirement Pensions

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether entitlement to a Category D pension requires a person to make a claim.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a widow is entitled to claim back underpaid state pension for periods before she was widowed.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a married woman is entitled to draw an immediate category BL pension when her husband reaches state pension age in cases where her husband has deferred taking his own pension.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit: Disqualification

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has issued to Jobcentres on the reintroduction of benefit sanctions on universal credit claimants as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Jobcentres: Coronavirus

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of Jobcentres will be open at their usual operating times from 6 July 2020 as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased..

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of Jobcentres will be operating with a full complement of staff from 6 July 2020 as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Mims Davies: Jobcentres have remained open throughout, providing support to our most vulnerable customers. In line with the easing of restrictions in England, from 1st July, people will be able to make an appointment with their Work Coach if they can’t get the help they want online or over the phone. Work Coaches, as part of the individualised approach, will be calling all claimants to engage with them. We will continue to be align with current guidance from Scotland and Wales. The Department is continually assessing the service being offered to customers and we continue to keep staff numbers under review as part of our response to the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market. We have already committed to increasing the number of Work Coaches and Case Managers and recruitment is already underway.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fishing Catches: Computer Software

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Marine Management Organisation has taken enforcement action using evidence from the under-10m Catch App.

Victoria Prentis: The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has not taken any enforcement action using evidence from the Catch Recording app as outlined in the MMO’s response to the public consultation in June 2019. The MMO’s priority has been to continue to support the under 10 metre fleet to adjust to the new licence condition to record their catches of quota species via workshops, drop-in sessions and digital support. The MMO will provide notice to the fishing sector before moving in to an enforcement phase.

Fishing Catches: Computer Software

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Marine Management Organisation's management of the under-10 metre CatchApp for recording fish landings.

Victoria Prentis: The development of the Catch Recording application has followed standard Government practice and was quality-assured by the Government Digital Service (GDS). The app is currently in a ‘public beta’ phase, which includes a rollout of the service to the fishing sector. During this phase the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published information, advice and guidance to provide support to all users. Current figures indicate a significant portion (77%) of the active under 10 metre fleet have adopted the new recording method with over 27,000 catch records successfully submitted. The comprehensive data that catch recording offers will enable the MMO to have confidence in its assessments of the total volumes and species of fish being taken from English waters by the under 10 metre fleet.

Fishing Catches: Computer Software

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Minister in his Department has responsibility for the CatchApp for fish landings.

Victoria Prentis: The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis MP, has responsibility for this policy area. The Secretary of State, the Rt Hon George Eustice MP, has overall responsibility for all departmental activity.

Food: Microplastics

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of current levels of micro plastics in food destined for human consumption; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) undertake research into current micro plastic levels in food destined for human consumption and (b) make an assessment of the trend in those levels; and if he will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow: Plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today. The UK is a world leader in tackling plastic pollution, including microplastics. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific literature concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in food. On the basis of current evidence, the FSA considers it is unlikely that the presence of microplastics particles that have been reported to occur in certain types of food, especially seafood, would cause harm to consumers. The FSA will continue to monitor and assess emerging information concerning microplastics in food including further consideration of this issue by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) later this year. Despite research findings that show the presence of low levels of microplastics in a few types of food or drink, microplastics analysis is very challenging and there are still no practical fully validated methods that would allow reliable routine analysis for microplastics in food and therefore to assess trends. Our priority is preventing plastic from entering the environment in the first place. The Government’s landmark Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our plans to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042.

Furs: Sales

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to plan for a review of the ban on the sale of animal fur after the end of the transition period.

Victoria Prentis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Totnes on 30 June 2020, PQ UIN 62631. [www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-22/62631]

United Utilities: Japanese Knotweed

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with United Utilities on the control and eradication of Japanese knotweed on land owned by that company.

Rebecca Pow: The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with United Utilities about Japanese knotweed.

Home Office

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department has provided to UK Border Force to ensure that  seasonal agricultural workers arriving in the UK do not display symptoms of covid-19.

Kevin Foster: Effective from 8 June, rules are in place for entering the UK because of COVID-19. The rules are for residents and visitors. Passengers will need to provide journey and contact details when travelling to the UK and will not be allowed to leave the place they are staying for the first 14 days except in very limited situations (known as self-isolation).Seasonal agricultural workers in the edible horticulture food chain are included on the short list of exemptions from these measures, but will need to provide details of the farm where they will be staying and remain there for 14 days.Should symptomatic passengers be encountered at the Primary Control Point (PCP) they will be referred to medical professionals for assessment and treatment as necessary.All operational staff have the relevant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available to them, along with detailed guidance on how to safely deal with individuals who display coronavirus symptoms.

Domestic Abuse: Coronavirus

Dr Luke Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, what steps her Department is taking to protect individuals from abusive partners during the covid-19 lockdown.

Victoria Atkins: We are working closely with domestic abuse charities, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and police to monitor the impact of covid-19 on incidents of domestic abuse.The Government has posted advice regarding national helplines on gov.uk to guide victims to the most appropriate support for their individual needs. This has been extensively promoted through our awareness raising campaign #YouAreNotAlone.The Home Office has provided £2m of funding including to help bolster such helplines at this time; £1.2m of this has been allocated. This is in addition to the £750 million funding package announced by the Chancellor, £76 million of which will support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery as well as ensure that vulnerable children and young people continue to get the help they need. From this funding the HO launched a £2m fund for national and regionally based domestic abuse organisations, bids to which are currently being assessed.

Domestic Abuse: Coronavirus

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the provision of a victim focused approach in relation to domestic abuse during the covid-19 lockdown.

Victoria Atkins: We are acutely aware of the need to put victims at the heart of our approach to tackling domestic abuse at this time. We are working closely with the domestic abuse sector to monitor and assess impacts and needs.The Government has posted advice regarding national helpline on gov.uk to guide victims to the most appropriate support for their individual needs. This has been extensively promoted through our awareness raising campaign #YouAreNotAlone.The Home Office has provided £2m of funding including to help bolster such helplines at this time; £1.2m of this has been allocated. This is in addition to the £750 million funding package announced by the Chancellor, £76 million of which will support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery as well as ensure that vulnerable children and young people continue to get the help they need. From this funding the HO launched a £2m fund for national and regionally based domestic abuse organisations, bids to which are currently being assessed.

Prostitution: Coronavirus

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect sex workers during the covid-19 outbreak; what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of decriminalising sex work and introducing a moratorium on raids, arrests and prosecutions during that outbreak; and what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on (a) financial, (b) welfare, (c) housing and (d) healthcare support for sex workers.

Victoria Atkins: Throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, the Government’s priority is to protect those selling sex from harm and exploitation and target those who exploit vulnerable people involved in sex work and prostitution. We continue to work closely with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to ensure current legislation achieves these aims.We have no plans to introduce a moratorium. Local areas and police forces are best placed to identify and respond to issues related to sex work. They are supported in this by National Police Chiefs Council guidance which rightly prioritises the safety of sex workers over enforcement action.Though the Government is aware of different legislative approaches to sex work and prostitution, we have not seen unequivocal evidence that decriminalisation is the best way to reduce harm and exploitation.We understand that those who are vulnerable and involved in selling sex can face a number of challenges that affect their ability to access services particularly during the Covid-19 outbreak. The Government has published guidance on accessing services such as those for health, sexual violence, modern slavery and domestic abuse. Existing specialist support services continue to be available to those seeking help. We are also providing £76m to charities and organisations throughout the country to support victims of modern slavery, sexual violence and domestic abuse. Of this, the Ministry of Justice is providing £10m to support sexual violence services through Covid 19 pressures. A further £3m per annum until 2022 will also be invested in the recruitment of more Independent Sexual Violence Advisors across the country.We have also taken swift action to ensure we continue to deliver essential services and support for victims of modern slavery enabled sexual exploitation during the Covid-19 pandemic. We will provide £1.73 million of funding for charities, announced by the Chancellor last month, to provide emergency support to victims of modern slavery. We also announced on 6 April 2020 that all individuals in accommodation support provided by the Victim Care Contract will not be required to move on for the next three months.In terms of financial and welfare support, the Government is providing support to those who are self-employed and have lost income due to Covid-19. Those affected may be eligible to claim a grant though the Covid-19 Self-employment Income Support Scheme. The Government is committed to providing a safety net for the most vulnerable in society and recognises that access to regular financial support is vital. We have made changes to ensure people who need financial help have access to the benefit system. We have temporarily relaxed the application of the Minimum Income Floor for all self-employed Universal Credit claimants affected by the impact of Covid-19, for the duration of the outbreak.The Government has put in place measures to support those experiencing homelessness during Covid-19. The Secretary of State for Housing announced a total of £3.2 billion of additional funding for Local Government to help them respond to Covid-19 pressures across services they deliver. This includes increasing support for services such as housing to help the most vulnerable.Healthcare services remain open including general practice, drug and alcohol, and sexual health services. Whilst they have reduced face to face appointments, some services are able to see urgent, priority or vulnerable clients (including sex workers) seeking support where necessary.

Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what metrics her Department uses to assess the effectiveness of its spending on prostitution/sexual exploitation specialist support services.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the £750 million of funding for charities at risk of financial hardship which provide key frontline services to vulnerable people affected by the covid-19 outbreak has been allocated to prostitution/sexual exploitation specialist support services.

Victoria Atkins: The Government and the Police remain rightly focussed on combatting the harms and exploitation associated with prostitution and helping those that wish to leave sex work. During the current unprecedented circumstances, we have also provided £750m to a range of charities. This will support those organisations at risk of financial hardship that are providing key frontline services to vulnerable people affected by the pandemic. We understand that those involved in prostitution can be vulnerable to exploitation. That is why £76m of this funding will be allocated to charities and organisations throughout the country to support the vulnerable in our society during the pandemic, including for victims of modern slavery, sexual violence and domestic abuse. Of this, the Ministry of Justice is providing £10m to support sexual violence services through Covid 19 pressures. A further £3m per annum until 2022 will also be invested in the recruitment of more Independent Sexual Violence Advisors across the country. The Home Office will distribute £7.8 million in emergency support for charities helping vulnerable children who have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak (including those supporting children who may be at risk of sexual abuse). Wider funding from the £750m will be provided by the National Lottery Community Fund, which is currently open for applications.Previously, we have provided funding for women’s charities to help women exit prostitution through the tampon tax and from dedicated funding of £100 million for specialist Violence Against Women and Girls services.

Immigration

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of granting indefinite leave to remain to (a) overseas nationals working as health and social care staff and (b) their spouses and dependents.

Kevin Foster: NHS workers from overseas have made a huge contribution in tackling the current pandemic. We are extending the leave of key NHS frontline health workers and their dependants by one year, free of immigration fees and health surcharge, if it was due to expire before October 2020. This offer has also been extended to cover those working in key healthcare roles in the independent health and care sector. However, indefinite leave to remain is based on several requirements, including a period of lawful residence in the UK without excess absences, sufficient knowledge of the English language and life in the UK, and any specific requirements of the visa route they are in. Families and dependants of all health workers who sadly pass away due to contracting the COVID-19 virus will be offered immediate indefinite leave to remain, without a requirement to pay a fee. We hope the number of people who find themselves in this position is very small. Our thoughts go out to the families and friends of all medical professionals who have passed away while working to keep us safe.

Police: Schools

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of schools-based police officers in reducing crime.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has assessed the effect of deployment of schools-based police officers on each of the characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has reviewed the existing evidence on schools-based police officers. In particular, the findings of a 2012 systematic review (Petrosino et al., 2012) were noted, which assessed studies from the UK, the US and Canada. This concluded that while the evidence base for the effectiveness of policing in schools is promising, it is not yet developed enough to conclude whether policing schools has an effect on crime in schools. What evidence does exist has recently been reviewed by Prof Ben Bradford of UCL and this can be found on the PSHE Association website here: https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/sites/default/files/u26918/Police%20in%20schools%20Evidence%20Review_0.pdf The Home Office has not undertaken an assessment of the effect of deployment of schools-based police officers on each of the characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010

Police: Schools

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department provides on schools-based police officers (a) wearing uniform, (b) carrying tasers and (c) carrying batons.

Kit Malthouse: The Government does not issue specific guidance on the use of police equipment and uniforms in schools. This is an operational matter for Chief officers to determine. Officers must pass a comprehensive training programme before they can carry tasers.

Home Office: Public Inquiries

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by her Department.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office currently sponsors five statutory inquiries, established or converted under the Inquiries Act 2005, and one non-statutory inquiry: a) Statutory inquiries:Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual AbuseUndercover Policing InquiryManchester Arena InquiryBrook House InquiryJermaine Baker Inquiry b) Non-statutory inquiry:Daniel Morgan Independent Panel

Health Services: Immigrants

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals working in the NHS paid the NHS surcharge in each month of 2020.

Kevin Foster: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 02 July 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The Home Office has no published data to answer this question.This information is not readily available nor held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to the fact the IHS is payable across multiple application routes.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has no published data to answer this question.This information is not readily available nor held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to the fact the IHS is payable across multiple application routes.

Asylum: LGBT People

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to asylum claims, which countries her Department has assessed as persecuting LGBTQ+ people.

Chris Philp: Our assessment of the situation for LGBTQ+ people in different countries is set out in the relevant country policy and information notes, which are available on the Gov.uk website. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/country-policy-and-information-notes

China and India: Coronavirus

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to help ensure that UK visa offices in (a) China and (b) India process visa applications for students planning to study at UK universities in the academic year 2020-21; what estimate his Department has made of the number of days those offices have been closed since 28 March 2020; and what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on ensuring that overseas student applications for the academic year 2020-21 are not disrupted by closure of those offices during the covid-19 outbreak; and if she will have discussions with the Home Secretary on prioritising visa applications of overseas students with travel, reception and quarantine arrangements in place.

Kevin Foster: Visa applications are processed by UK Visas & Immigration in the Home Office. All visa applications for students planning to study in the UK are processed by the student immigration case working team based in the UK, this includes those submitted overseas and in the UK. Immigration case-working operations have been impacted by COVID-19, with most locations going into lockdown at the end of March although we have continued to make decisions where we have been able to. Students, like other visa applicants, are required to attend a visa application centre (VAC) to provide documents and enrol their biometrics. VACs in China and India have been closed since January and March respectively, but as restrictions continue to be lifted by host governments, overseas VACs are reopening, enabling students to apply for the required visa to study in the UK. Our Visa Application Centres in China began to open on 2nd June 2020 and all centres currently have available appointments. Our Visa Application Centres in India will reopen from 6 July. As centres reopen, details of these will be published on our commercial partner websites. Unless exemptions apply, all travellers to the UK are required to comply with the border health measures. UKVI operations and the Education sector are working closely to ensure that student applications are not impacted by earlier closures as a result of Covid-19.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Laura Trott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department will publish its response to the consultation on Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments, which closed on 4 March 2020.

Kit Malthouse: On 5 November 2019, the Government launched a consultation seeking views on measures to strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. The consultation closed on the 5 March. We will announce the outcome of this consultation in due course.

Youth Mobility Scheme

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the UK's points-based immigration system: policy statement on 19 February 2020, if she will make it her Department’s policy for EU citizens aged 18 to 30 to be eligible for the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa.

Kevin Foster: We have indicated our desire to negotiate a youth mobility arrangement with the EU, or with individual countries within it, ensuring that young people can continue to enjoy the social, cultural and educational benefits of living in the EU and the UK.

Immigration: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department is providing to people outside of the UK who are unable to (a) provide their biometric information or (b) take an approved English language test for their immigration applications due to the closure of (i) UK Visa Application Centres and (ii) test centres during the covid-19 pandemic.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has already implemented a number of measures for visa applicants, including for those who are unable to take an English language tests due to the impact of Covid-19. Details of all published concessions are available at - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents. Some specific concessions are in place on English language testing, for example for those applying to enter the UK or remain on the basis of family or private life you can apply for an exemption if the test centre was closed or you couldn’t travel to it due to Covid-19. For students, Higher Education Providers (HEP) can self-assess the English ability of those studying at degree level or above and due to Covid-19, this provision has been temporarily extended to allow HEPs to self-assess the English ability of students undertaking pre-sessional courses. Secure English Language Testing (SELT) centres have started to reopen in England and in a number of overseas locations outside of the UK, where local restrictions have eased. In order to submit their biometric data, visa customers are required to attend a visa application centre (VAC). The decision to reopen each VAC location is taken in conjunction with our outsourced operators (commercial partners) and is subject to the easing of restrictions in each location. A number of centres have already reopened and details of which centres are open or will be opening are published on the relevant commercial partner websites. UKVI and its partners are ensuring that regular communications are issued to keep customers informed of re-opening dates and appointment availability

Immigration: Applications

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the statistics relating to covid-19 and the immigration system, May 2020, published 28 May 2020, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the delays in decisions on immigration applications that have resulted from the covid-19 outbreak, and what the average timeframe is for an immigration decision on (a) a visa application, (b) an application to the EU Settlement Scheme and (c) an asylum application.

Kevin Foster: Immigrations case-working operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and we have continued to make decisions where we have been able to. The re-opening of case-working offices has commenced and all teams are committed to decide applications as quickly as possible. Information on processing times for visa applications is published as part of the Migration Transparency data, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data. Due to the digital nature of the EU Settlement Scheme, it has remained open throughout the pandemic for customers able to apply on line using the EU Exit: ID Document Check app. The current expected processing times are between 5 working days and a month but in some instances may take longer depending on the circumstances of the case and if we need to request further information from an applicant. The extent and length of time taken to complete these enquiries varies according to the prevailing circumstances of each particular application. The expected processing times are based upon current performance and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-application-processing-times/eu-settlement-scheme-pilot-current-expected-processing-times-for-applications Additional support is available to those EU citizens in the UK who do not have the appropriate access, skills or confidence to apply online through Assisted Digital, which can offer assistance over the phone. The Home Office takes the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously and has already put in place a range of measures to support asylum applicants affected by the covid-19 outbreak. In line with the Home Office’ commitment to protect the health and wellbeing of its staff and applicants as a top priority, Asylum Operations made the decision to cease face to face substantive asylum interviews with effect from Thursday 19th March 2020. Asylum Operations has continued to make decisions where there is enough information on file to allow a decision to be made. The Home Office remains committed to delivering a fair and humane asylum system and minimising delays to decision making; our ability to interview applicants is critical that that. To keep people safe but allow the Home Office to gather relevant information needed to make a decision on their claim for protection, Asylum Operations have secured additional mobile digital and video interviewing kit that enables more applicants to be interviewed remotely. Substantive asylum interviews will restart as soon we can establish a process that allows the participants - applicants, representatives, interpreters and interviewers - to do so safely. The Home Office is committed to ensuring that claims are considered without unnecessary delay, to ensure that individuals who need protection are granted asylum as soon as possible and can start to integrate and rebuild their lives, including those granted at appeal. All asylum claims lodged in the UK are care-fully considered on a case by case basis, based on their individual merits, against a background of relevant case law and up to date country information.

Travel: Coronavirus

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to verify that people travelling to the UK comply with quarantine measures by staying at a specified address.

Kevin Foster: Unless they fall into an exempt category, anyone travelling to the UK should complete a Passenger Locator Form that specifies where they will be self-isolating. Border Force officers carry out spot checks at the border to ensure this form is completed Public Health England undertake assurance calls against those not exempt from quarantine arrangements. In cases of concern or where they haven’t been able to reach a passenger, the details are passed to Border Force, who undertake further scrutiny of the data before passing the details to the police for enforcement action. The devolved administrations have their own individual arrangements for enforcement and access to the data captured by the Passenger Locator Form. Anyone found failing to comply with the quarantine measures may be liable to a fixed penalty notice of £1000 in England.

Travel: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of people asked to quarantine for 14 days on arrival to the UK have (a) not been contacted, (b) contacted once and (c) contacted more than once; if she will make it her policy for a text message to be sent to people at the end of the 14 day quarantine period to advise them that their quarantine period has ended; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Foster: New measures introduced on 8 June require all passengers arriving in the UK, who do not fall under a specified exemption, to self-isolate for 14 days to reduce cases of COVID-19 being brought in from abroad and to help prevent a devastating second wave of the disease. An assurance service is contacting a random sample of non-exempted arrivals to ensure that people understand the restrictions, as well as how to recognise symptoms, and what to do if they are experiencing them. Calls will also include an assurance check as to whether individuals are complying with restrictions. Public information messaging is in place at points of entry to reinforce this message. These measures will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are in line with the latest scientific evidence and remain effective and necessary

Marriage: Coronavirus

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when registry office wedding ceremonies will resume as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Kevin Foster: The Government announced on 23 June that small weddings, with up to 30 people in attendance, could resume in England from 4 July. The Welsh Government permitted weddings to resume in Wales from 22 June.It will be for individual local authorities to ensure that their register offices can undertake ceremonies safely in accordance with public health guidelines.

Uk Border Force

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2020 to Question 54929 on UK Border Force: Recruitment, if she will publish the number of Border Force officers empowered to carry out customs tasks under section 3 of the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Act 2009; and how many of those officers will be based in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.

Chris Philp: Border Force has a workforce model clearly setting out roles and skills coupled with a strategic workforce planning process enabling effective identification of resourcing needs, training requirements and the effective deployment of staff. Any requirement to increase activity in one area will be managed in this context.

Home Office: Revenue and Customs

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Partnership Agreements are in operation between HMRC and her Department; and plans she has to revise those plans in response to the UK leaving the EU.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office and HMRC have a long-established relationship underpinned by a single Partnership Agreement. The Partnership Agreement sets out the framework under which HMRC and the Home Office work together to ensure the effective enforcement of customs controls at the border. The Partnership Agreement is undergoing a review to ensure governance of the relationship remains rigorous, robust and effective into the future.

Road Traffic Control: Police

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety entitled Roads policing and its contribution to road safety, published on 4 June 2020, if she will make roads policing a strategic policing requirement.

Kit Malthouse: There is a high threshold for inclusion of national threats in the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) which is subject to periodic review. Before the Secretary of State can make any changes, legislation requires her to seek advice from key policing stakeholders. The department remains committed to reviewing the SPR this year and subject to sufficient recovery from the COVID-19 response and consequent capacity in policing, the review of the SPR is scheduled to commence in the Autumn.

Immigrants: Health Services

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) NHS and (b) social care workers who are foreign nationals have (i) paid and (ii) been refunded the NHS surcharge since 21 May 2020.

Kevin Foster: This information is not readily available nor held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to the fact the IHS is payable across multiple application routes.

Immigrants: Health Services and Social Services:

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many NHS and social care workers paid the Immigration Health Surcharge in each month of 2020.

Kevin Foster: This information is not readily available nor held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to the fact the IHS is payable across multiple application routes.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to issue reminders to EU citizens who have been granted pre-settled status of the when they should apply to convert to settled status; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Foster: UK Visas & Immigration are committed to sending out reminders to those people whose pre-settled status is due to expire and who have not yet applied for settled status. This is set out in paragraph 1.18 of the Statement of Intent published in June 2018 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/718237/EU_Settlement_Scheme_SOI_June_2018.pdf As pre-settled status is valid for 5 years from the date of issue, the earliest any reminders will be sent out will be 2023.

Scotland Office

Coronavirus: Scotland

Simon Baynes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on co-ordinating a UK wide response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Alister Jack: I have regular discussions with all my Cabinet colleagues on the Covid-19 outbreak, including the co-ordination of a UK-wide response. This Government continues to be absolutely committed to a UK-wide approach. We will continue to work together with the Scottish Government and other Devolved Administrations to ensure a coordinated approach across the UK, while respecting the devolution settlements.

Coronavirus: Scotland

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many meetings of the Covid-19 Operations Committee he has attended.

Mr Alister Jack: The Covid-19 Operations Committee was set up in June to deliver the policy and operational response to Covid-19. It is chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, attended by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and other Cabinet Ministers will be invited according to the agenda. Given the operationally sensitive nature of the information discussed, it is not appropriate to disclose the additional information requested.

Coronavirus: Scotland

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many meetings of the Economic Operations Committee he has attended since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Alister Jack: The Economic and Business Ministerial Implementation Group was set up in March to consider the economic and business impact and response, including supply chain resilience. It was chaired by the Chancellor, with the Business Secretary as deputy chair, and attended by other Ministers and officials. Given the operationally sensitive nature of the information discussed, it is not appropriate to disclose the additional information requested.

Cabinet Office

Government Departments: Contracts

Allan Dorans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many contracts have been awarded by the Government since the start of the covid-19 outbreak other than under procurement guidelines requiring at least three competitive tenders; and what the total value is of those contracts.

Chloe Smith: This information is not held centrally.Details of central government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Climate Change Cabinet Committee

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make regular reports to the House on the (a) frequency and (b) decisions of meetings of the Cabinet committee on climate change.

Penny Mordaunt: It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.

Influenza and Pneumonia: Ethnic Groups

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people by ethnic group died from (a) flu and (b) pneumonia in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 61.68 KB)

Intelligence Services: Detainees

Catherine West: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the guidance entitled, Consolidated Guidance to Intelligence Officers and Service Personnel on the Detention and Interviewing of Detainees Overseas, and on the Passing and Receipt of Intelligence Relating to Detainees, was followed in 2018.

Catherine West: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how times decision-making under the Consolidated Guidance to Intelligence Officers and Service Personnel on the Detention and Interviewing of Detainees Overseas, and on the Passing and Receipt of Intelligence Relating to Detainees,  was escalated to a Minister in 2018.

Catherine West: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the intelligence agencies informed the Investigatory Powers Commissioner of (a) instances of non-compliance with the Consolidated Guidance to Intelligence Officers and Service Personnel on the Detention and Interviewing of Detainees Overseas, and on the Passing and Receipt of Intelligence Relating to Detainees and (b) instances in which they did not identify that the Consolidated Guidance review process should have been followed, for the year 2018.

Penny Mordaunt: The Investigatory Powers Commissioner had statutory oversight of the Consolidated Guidance and reported on it annually to the Prime Minister. I refer the Honourable Member to section 10.19 of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s 2018 annual report where the (then) Commissioner explained why it was not appropriate to publish these details.The Investigatory Powers Commissioner's 2018 Annual Report can be found at:https://www.ipco.org.uk/docs/IPCO%20Annual%20Report%202018%20final.pdfThe Government does not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment for any purpose.

Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission

Alex Norris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) correspondence and (b) representations he has received on proposals to engage citizens in the Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Alex Norris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral Answer of 15 January 2020, Official Report column 1019 on Constitutional Reform, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including citizen engagement in plans for the Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: The Government has received assorted correspondence on the proposals for a Commission. The Government will publish more details on this work programme in due course.

Department for International Development: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 16 June 2020 on Global Britain, how many staff in his Department are working on the merger of the Department for International development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and what the civil service grades of those staff is.

Penny Mordaunt: The Cabinet Office has a small team working on machinery of government changes. This would include the merger of the FCO and DfID. As has been the case under successive administrations, further details will not be disclosed as five or fewer individuals are involved.

European Union: Committees

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the Union Policy Implementation Committee has met in each of the last three years.

Chloe Smith: It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.

Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question 59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, which Minister is responsible for civil service HR and shared services.

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question 59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, which Minister is responsible for fraud, error, debt and grants.

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question 59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, which Minister is responsible for the Geospatial Commission.

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question 59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, which Minister is responsible for the Government Digital Service.

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question 59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, which Minister is responsible for the Government Security Group.

Chloe Smith: The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office is responsible for the supervision of the overall work of the Cabinet Office across all policy areas.Further to the answer given to PQ 43737 on 11 May 2020, details of areas of responsibility for junior ministers will be published in due course.

Treasury

Government Departments: Development Aid

Chris Law: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) impact and (b) risk assessments the Government has made of planned reduced ODA spend across Government departments.

Steve Barclay: The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its gross national income (GNI) each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Given the expected fall in GNI this year, commitments of aid spending are being reviewed across all departments. HM Treasury allocates ODA budgets to departments and is responsible for decisions on changes to these. Departments are responsible for assessing and assuring the impact and value for money of their ODA programmes on an ongoing basis in line with Managing Public Money. HM Treasury take evidence-based spending decisions and ensure departments maintain high standards of programme delivery that are consistent with HMG best practice.

Small Business Grants Fund: Insurance Companies

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he will take to ensure that insurance companies do not deduct the £10,000 Coronavirus Small Business Grant from insurance payouts relating to holiday booking cancellations; and what discussions he has had with representatives of the Financial Conduct Authority on that matter.

John Glen: Insurers must treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. The FCA sets the conduct standard required of insurance firms in relation to their business which aim to ensure customers are treated in a fair manner. For example, the FCA’s rules require insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim, and appropriate information on its progress; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed. The Government is aware of the issue that some insurance companies are deducting the Coronavirus Small Business Grant from insurance payouts, on the basis that this would be compensating businesses twice for the same loss. The government is working closely with the FCA on this issue to understand whether this approach is consistent with their conduct rules.The Government is also in continual dialogue with the insurance sector to understand its response to Covid 19.

Customs: Brexit

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what contingency plans he has put in place for the potential eventuality that customs declarations software fails after the transition period has ended.

Jesse Norman: HMRC continue to test their customs systems to ensure they will remain effective following the end of the Transition Period. In the unlikely event of an unplanned outage there are fallback procedures in place. In addition, there is a disaster recovery system for CHIEF, and the new Customs Declaration Service is protected by the cloud-based environment it is hosted on.

Customs: Electronic Government

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason he decided to develop a bespoke customs management software instead of using UNCTAD's ASYCUDA system.

Jesse Norman: HMRC are not developing a bespoke Customs Management software. They have selected a commercial package called Declaration Management System (DMS) as part of the CDS programme. DMS has been deployed into HMRC’s live environment and traders are already making transitions onto the new platform. UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) offer the ASYCUDA system to developing countries as an alternative to DMS. There are about 90 countries with relatively small Customs functions (e.g. Albania, Palestine, and Somoa) using ASYCUDA worldwide. ASYCUDA is not used by any G7 or G20 countries. ASYCUDA was considered alongside DMS as one of the options for CHIEF replacement. It was not selected as the preferred option because (a) it did not meet all of the Union Customs Code functional requirements and (b) there were no reference countries processing anything like (pre EU Exit) UK declaration volumes, and no guarantees that ASYCUDA could meet UK volumes. With an expected five-fold increase in declaration volumes resulting from our departure from the EU, ASYCUDA looked less well suited to UK requirements.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the median wage is of people in receipt of Government support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, by Parliamentary constituency.

Jesse Norman: It is not possible to provide an answer in the time available.

Developing Countries: Debts

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will takes steps to assist the 77 poorest countries to meet the (a) challenges and (b) effect of the covid-19 pandemic by (i) cancelling the bilateral debt payments already suspended for 2020 between those countries and the UK for 2020 and 2021, (ii) encouraging the (A) World Bank and (B) IMF to cancel such payments, (iii) discouraging other UK creditors not to initiate legal action against any of the 77 poorest countries that default on their 2020 and 2021 debt payments and (iv) initiating an international arrangement for the restructuring of the debts owed by those countries to render their future payments economically sustainable.

John Glen: The Chancellor joined his G20 counterparts to commit to a temporary suspension on debt service repayments from the 77 poorest countries under the debt service suspension initiative (DSSI). The DSSI extends to the end of the 2020, but the G20 will review the possibility for extension later this year, based on advice from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG). At Budget, the Chancellor announced a leading contribution of up to £150m to the IMF’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust, which will provide the world’s poorest countries relief on IMF repayments. The WBG has made available significant amounts of new finance to help countries counter the effects of the pandemic, ensuring net positive financing flows to all DSSI eligible countries. For the poorest countries at high risk of debt distress, support from the World Bank’s International Development Association is provided on grant terms and does not add to debt vulnerabilities. The Chancellor and his G20 counterparts called upon commercial creditors to participate in the DSSI on comparable terms to the official sector on a voluntary basis. It will be important that developing countries do not see their access to international capital markets become too costly or restricted as mobilising private finance will be essential for crisis recovery and long-term sustainable development. The DSSI provides time to assess what further assistance for may be needed for these countries on a case-by-case basis. If debts do require restructuring, the UK will work with the Paris Club of official creditors, IMF, and WBG to support equitable debt reductions to long-term sustainable growth.

Concert Halls and Theatres: VAT

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reduce VAT on ticketing for (a) music venues, (b) theatres and (c) other creative venues.

Jesse Norman: Admissions to cultural venues are already exempt from VAT if they are provided by a local authority or an eligible body such as a charity, otherwise they attract the standard rate of VAT. Extending this relief would carry a very significant cost to the Exchequer and must be viewed in the context of almost £50 billion of requests for relief from VAT since the EU referendum and in response to Covid-19. The Treasury keeps all taxes under review.

Consumers: Protection

Drew Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for Wirecard Card Solutions Limited customers utilising the institution for current account activities.

John Glen: Wirecard Card Solutions Ltd is required to maintain appropriate measures to safeguard customers’ money under the Electronic Money Regulations. It does this by holding customer funds separate from its own money in accounts with credit institutions. Effective safeguarding arrangements are critical to help ensure that customers’ money is protected and returned if a firm fails. Adequate safeguarding arrangements which are compliant with the regulatory requirements are a condition of Wirecard’s ongoing FCA authorisation.

Schools: Wales

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the £1 billion schools rebuilding programme in England is new funding; and how much money the Welsh Government will receive in Barnett consequentials.

Steve Barclay: The government is committing over £1bn to fund the first 50 projects of a new, ten-year school rebuilding programme, starting from 2020-21. These projects will be confirmed in the autumn, and construction on the first sites will begin from September 2021.Funding for these measures, including Barnett consequentials, will be set out at the Comprehensive Spending Review later this year.

PAYE

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2020 to Question 57401 on PAYE, how many limited companies that registered an annual PAYE scheme for the financial year 2018-19 made an RTI notification of payment to HMRC after 20 March 2019; and what assumption his Department made about the volume of such notifications in respect of the 2019-20 tax year when he set the rules for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: It is not possible to provide an answer in the time available. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, including the cut-off for RTI notifications, was designed in a way that mitigated the risk of fraud and could be delivered quickly in order to provide the support that employers and employees needed in April. Where individuals are not eligible to be furloughed the Government has put in place a significant package of temporary welfare measures including a £20 per week increase in the Universal Credit standard allowance and working tax credit basic element, and a nearly £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit Claimants.

PAYE

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2020 to Question 57401 on PAYE, how many employees who paid PAYE under an annual scheme in financial year 2018-19 were the subject of an RTI notification of payment to HMRC after 20 March 2019; and what assumption his Department made about the volume of such notifications in respect of 2019-20 tax year when he set the rules for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: It is not possible to provide an answer in the time available. PAYE schemes may apply to operate on an annual scheme basis and later relinquish their annual scheme status. The time period for which each PAYE scheme has operated on an annual basis is not readily available for analysis. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, including the cut-off for RTI notifications, was designed in a way that mitigated the risk of fraud and could be delivered quickly in order to provide the support that employers and employees needed in April. Where individuals are not eligible to be furloughed the Government has put in place a significant package of temporary welfare measures including a £20 per week increase in the Universal Credit standard allowance and working tax credit basic element, and a nearly £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit Claimants.

PAYE

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) employers and (b) employees have (i) registered and (ii) operated annual PAYE schemes in each tax year since the introduction of HMRC's Real Time Information system.

Jesse Norman: It is not possible to provide an answer in the time available. PAYE schemes may apply to operate on an annual scheme basis and later relinquish their annual scheme status. The time period for which each PAYE scheme has operated on an annual basis is not readily available for analysis.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Swimming

Jane Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the research entitled, Value of Swimming, published by Swim England.

Nigel Huddleston: Regular exercise has been shown to treat, manage and prevent a number of physical and mental health conditions and I recognise the role swimming plays in this. The Value of Swimming report helpfully sets out the value of swimming to individuals and society.The Government is committed to reopening facilities as soon as it is safe to do so and I welcome the work Swim England are doing with the sector to produce guidance on the re-opening of swimming pools. As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Coronavirus

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report of the all-party group on air pollution entitled, Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection, published on 29 May 2020.

Caroline Dinenage: The Secretary of State for DCMS welcomes the all-party group’s report and has noted its recommendations with interest. Improving air quality is a top priority for the Government and, especially during these unprecedented times, we will continue to take robust and comprehensive action to improve air quality in the UK and minimise public health impacts. DEFRA recently launched a rapid Call for Evidence to understand more fully the impact that coronavirus is having on air pollution emissions, concentrations and exposure and DEFRA’s Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) are currently analysing the responses.

Broadband: Ceredigion

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate the Government has made of the number of premises in Ceredigion that do not have access to an internet service with a download speed of at least 10Mbps.

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment the Government has made of progress towards at least 10Mbps download speeds under the Universal Service Obligation at qualifying premises in Ceredigion.

Matt Warman: The broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) provides every UK household with the legal right to request a broadband connection that provides download speeds of at least 10Mbps and an upload speed of at least 1Mbps, where this is not already available or is not due to be made available within a year through a publicly funded intervention. Ofcom’s Connected Nations Report, published in December 2019, found that 5132 (or 13.7%) of premises in Ceredigion have a fixed broadband connection that is delivering speeds below the USO specification. However, some of these premises are likely to be able to access a 4G mobile data service that provides USO level speeds or higher.As the Universal Service Obligation only launched on 20 March 2020, no assessment of its progress in Ceredigion has yet been made. However, as the Universal Service Provider, BT is required to report at least every six months on progress to Ofcom, who are implementing and monitoring the broadband USO on behalf of the Government. In addition to the USO, the Government is also investing to bring gigabit capable broadband to harder to reach areas through the existing £200 million Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme and, from next year, through its new £5 billion UK Gigabit Programme.

Music: Coronavirus

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to provide additional financial support to music venues in response to the open letter of June 2020 to the Government from the UK’s Grassroots Music Venues organisation.

Caroline Dinenage: We appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to the grassroots music sector, which is why Government has put in place unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. These include: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme;The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme;The Bounceback Loan Scheme;Expanding eligibility for the business rates reliefs. We continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading music industry. Our recovery work for this sector is being delivered via the ministerially-chaired Events and Entertainment Working Group, which was established to support the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce. The Music Venue Trust is an active and valued member of the Working Group, the focus of which is to produce sector-led guidance for the safe reopening of a range of creative industries sectors, including live music venues and music recording and rehearsal studios.

Gyms and Leisure: Coronavirus

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish a timetable for the reopening of indoor leisure facilities and gyms during the covid-19 outbreak.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who he has had discussions with in the sports sector on the reopening of indoor leisure facilities and gyms during the covid-19 outbreak.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions officials of his Department had with representatives of gyms and indoor leisure facilities on the decision not to re-open those facilities on 4 July 2020 as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on what scientific evidence his Department based its decision to delay the re-opening of indoor leisure facilities as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Nigel Huddleston: Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. The Government is committed to reopening facilities as soon as it is safe to do so including indoor gyms and sports centres. The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July. As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.

Arts: Government Assistance

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many workers in the creative industries are not eligible to apply to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

Caroline Dinenage: No estimates have been made. However, we appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to many of DCMS’ sectors including the creative industries which is why the Government has announced unprecedented support for businesses and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. DCMS is engaging with a range of departments to support the economic response to Covid-19, and ensuring that the needs of its sectors, and those who work in them, are fully understood. To ensure we are assisting all our sectors as effectively as possible, regular ministerially-chaired roundtables are held with business representative organisations and trade associations from across the creative industries. In addition, officials are in regular contact with stakeholders from these sectors, and we continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading creative industries. DCMS will continue to work with these valuable sectors to understand the difficulties they face and help them access support through these challenging times and through recovery.

Music: Coronavirus

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the scientific basis is for not allowing choirs and singing activities to resume as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support cultural venues that have announced plans to make a large proportion of their employees redundant.

Caroline Dinenage: Current Public Health England assessment is that singing carries a potential higher risk of transmission and that participation in this activity requires particular attention to the risk involved. Based on this, Government guidance proposes a precautionary risk-based approach to certain activities and aims to develop the ways activities can be carried out as the evidence base is better understood. To help support the development of the evidence base in regards to singing, DCMS is engaged in a number of scientific activities focusing on the need to understand the different risks associated with singing, brass and woodwind. DCMS is working closely with SAGE and a number of specialists in aerosol transmission and ventilation, who will focus on a number of critical research questions. These groups will be examining existing and emerging evidence to provide advice to guide the future development of policy and guidelines.

Film and Television: Government Assistance

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing a state-backed fund for film and TV productions that are unable to obtain insurance.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognises that Covid-19 exclusions to existing and new insurance policies presents a significant risk for film and TV productions returning to work in the shorter term. With the majority of filming taking place in the summer months, and guidance already published by the sector to allow a safe return to work, we know the sector is keen to get productions up and running again. DCMS is examining this issue in detail, and engaging closely with our sector stakeholders to aid our work in this area.

Temporary Accommodation: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of provision of support for the proprietors of (a) bed and breakfast and (b) other establishments offering overnight accommodation that are deterred from reopening by the potential for residents with covid-19 symptoms being required to self-isolate on their premises as a result of the absence of guidance on who is liable for the costs of the (i) food, (ii) other supplies and (iii) round-the-clock accommodation of those residents.

Nigel Huddleston: From 4 July, people will be allowed to travel to holiday accommodation - including bed and breakfasts - for overnight stays in England. Guidance has been published on how to open guest accommodation businesses safely whilst minimising the risks of COVID-19. If a guest is displaying signs of the COVID-19 virus while staying in overnight accommodation, they should inform the accommodation provider, immediately self-isolate where they are to minimise any risk of transmission, and request a test. If they are confirmed to have COVID-19, they should return home if they reasonably can. If a guest cannot reasonably return home, their circumstances should be discussed with an appropriate health care professional and, if necessary, the local authority. We regularly assess the nature of the tourism sectors’ engagement with the Government’s comprehensive economic support package. Tourism businesses - including those that do not plan to reopen on 4 July - can continue to access schemes such as the extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans scheme.

Arts: Finance

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on allocating additional financial support to (a) music venues, (b) theatres and (c) people who work in creative industries.

Caroline Dinenage: DCMS is engaging with a range of departments to support the economic response to Covid-19, and ensuring that the needs of its sectors including live music, theatre and the wider creative industries, and those who work in them, are fully understood. DCMS will continue to work with these valuable sectors to understand the difficulties they face and help them access support through these challenging times and through recovery. To ensure we are assisting all these sectors as effectively as possible, regular ministerially-chaired roundtables are held with business representative organisations and trade associations from across the creative industries. In addition, officials are in regular contact with stakeholders from these sectors, and we continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading creative industries.

Bowling: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what consultation his Department undertook with representatives from tenpin bowling (a) operators and (b) organisations on the decision to keep that sector closed when the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased on 4 July 2020.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what his timescale is for informing representatives of tenpin bowling operators of (a) the requirements they must meet to be permitted to safely re-open to the public and (b) how those operators submit proposals to Government for approval of meeting those requirements.

Nigel Huddleston: Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. The Government is committed to reopening leisure facilities including Bowling Alleys as soon as it is safe to do so. The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July. As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.

Ice Skating: Coronavirus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to enable the safe re-opening of indoor ice skating rinks as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Nigel Huddleston: Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active.The Government has made it clear that it will adopt a phased approach based on scientific and medical advice, and that the primary goal is to protect public health. The Government is in discussions with representatives from the sport and physical activity sector about the steps required to restart grassroots sport and will update the public when it is deemed safe to reopening indoor sports venues and facilities as soon as it is safe to do so, including ice rinks.

Women and Equalities

Females: Coronavirus

Karin Smyth: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the UN Report The Impact of Covid 19 on Women; and what steps she is taking to in response to that report's findings that the covid-19 outbreak has had a greater negative economic impact on women, has led to an increase in unpaid care work, and has led to a rise in gender-based violence.

Kemi Badenoch: This Government is working tirelessly to support people impacted by COVID-19, including women.The UN Report has highlighted some key issues that women are facing globally as a result of this pandemic. To respond to these challenges, we have taken unprecedented steps to support lives and livelihoods, including increasing the generosity of Universal Credit, introducing the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and made changes to ensure people do not miss out on parental leave, childcare support or carer’s allowance. We have also been clear that those with caring responsibilities (including childcare) can access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which will continue until October. We have also engaged extensively with a wide variety of key stakeholders to inform our work in this area, including the Fawcett Society, Equally Ours, a network of UK equal opportunities organisations, the UK Civil Society Women's Alliance, and small women’s organisations. The cultural shift in flexible working for all that we’ve seen in recent months can and must be part of how we build back better after the crisis.Gendered violence of any kind is unacceptable, which is why we announced an extra £76 million to support the most vulnerable – including survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. This is in addition to the £2 million made available by the Home Office to help bolster domestic abuse helplines and online services, to ensure that support continues to be available for victims. Despite lockdown regulations, we made clear that anyone at risk of domestic abuse could still leave their home and go somewhere they feel safe. The Home Office is running an awareness campaign - #YouAreNotAlone - to signpost victims to the support services available.

Gay Conversion Therapy

Afzal Khan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2020 to Question 59593 on Gay Conversion Therapy, what her timetable is for reviewing the findings of the draft report; and when she plans to publish the final report.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government received a draft of the research report on Friday 12th June 2020, and is currently reviewing the findings. We will publish the report in due course, once the draft has been considered and the report is completed.